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

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

Men, you don’t want the ladies getting all the good looks, do you? The stigma of cosmetic procedures being just for the women was thrown out the window long ago. While the mommies are coming in for their makeovers, daddy should get a “do over”, too. Men are taking charge of their looks by getting rejuvenating treatments and procedures as part of their health, confidence and career maintaining/building regimen.

COSMETIC SURGERY CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS WORKPLACE SUCCESS…Everyone is noticing the difference that a youthful, energetic, healthy appearance makes when it comes to perception and promotion at the office and with clients. As you get to the top of the corporate ladder the pressure is even greater to “look the part.” Good looks are expected if the executive role requires any public exposure. Companies want to look good in part by being represented by people who look good.

With all the expectations at home and the office, dads can take the pressure off themselves and allow us to virtually turn back years from their face and body. These are some of the top requested daddy do over procedures:

RHINOPLASTY surgery of the nose is aimed to reestablish symmetry and unity within your unique face. At the hands of a skilled surgeon, it can:
repair and correct previous surgical problems, such as displaced implants or cartilage grafts
improve breathing issues from nasal passage blockages (maybe due to a broken nose from roughhousing as a youth),
remove unwanted bumps, asymmetries, depressions, etc.
refine the inadequate nose tip projection (e.g. age related droopy tips) or by slimming and narrowing any disproportionate aspect of the nose.

Achieve a well sculpted neck and chin using:
1. CHIN AUGMENTATION with Implants or Injectable Fillers that are tailored to your specific needs and goals. Whether your desire is for a more rugged, stronger chin, or to achieve facial Achbalance, this can restore a natural, more youthful appearance.

And don’t forget that you can say goodbye to that double chin by removing that unwelcome pocket of fat with LIPOSUCTION.

2. ABDOMINOPLASTY/BODY SCULPTING can help take off those years of sympathy weight gained while mommy gained pregnancy weight, and from choosing family time instead of gym time. Tummy tucks eliminate the bulge with liposuction, but also excess skin that has been stretched out. ABDOMINOPLASTY is the surgery of choice for men who want to rejuvenate the abs. These are some of the aesthetic and physical benefits of a Sculpting Tummy Tuck:
restores desired firmness and contour to the abdomen
Tightens relaxed ab muscles
Results in a smoother, flatter, abdomen
Sculpted “six pack” can be added

And don’t forget about those quick in and out treatments with BOTOX (Brotox) and hyaluronic acid fillers like RESTYLANE, JUVEDERM and PERLANE that can instantly get rid of those forehead and frown lines and contour the face. So dads, let’s talk about how you can take control of your image to accomplish a younger, healthier look with your Daddy Do Over.

Best to You and Yours,

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Well, we’ve written tons of material about facial aging and ways to restore youthfulness. That’s because, no matter what we do we will all continue to age…some people simply put, age more gracefully and beautifully than others.

Cosmetic enhancement is all about using procedures, techniques and products to stave off the “signs” of aging or by actually removing lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and more using the right option(s). The main question the past couple of years has been: “Dr. Davison, do I need surgery or can fillers get the job done?” So let’s look at this today:       

FILLERS/INJECTABLES vs SURGERY

First, it’s critical that your surgeon thoroughly understands the complex facial anatomy. Secondly, fillers require much knowledge also. The key is in knowing which filler(s) to use at a given time by knowing what they do and how they work. These simple guidelines remain foundational:

1)    Know when to use fillers – they are excellent to correct initial gauntness from volume loss and the right fillers can restore volume and definition while smoothing out early lines and wrinkles. They work well as long as there is no loose skin.

2)    When to choose surgery – Fillers can offer long lasting results, but if skin elasticity is poor the muscles slip and fillers cannot deal with these issues. Surgery is the right option at this stage. It can effectively deal with loose, sagging skin and reposition relaxed muscles to their more youthful positions.

While nothing replaces good genes, a good surgeon can help guide you in making the correct choices no matter what age or stage you are currently enjoying.

Men and women today, Boomers and Millennials, are choosing to have age defying cosmetic enhancements because they can, and because they want to look as good and youthful as they feel!

FALL IS HERE IN ALL ITS GLORY…and the calendars are filling up with social events for school, work, church, family etc. You can start now and breeze through a hectic season looking vibrant, radiant and healthy. In fact, it’s possible to look up to 10 years younger without surgery…and no one will know except you!

INJECTABLES mini REVIEW:

I’ve been doing non surgical facelifts and rejuvenating the cheeks, nose, eyes, chin and lips for years…using injectable fillers for wonderful natural looking results that can last up to 2 years.

Here’s what I use, how and where I use it:

• Lips   Nasolabial folds   Hollow cheeks
• Weak jawline     Nose job       Brow lift
• Marionette lines   Crow’s feet     Forehead lines/wrinkles
• Undereye shadows     Backs of hands

TODAY’S INJECTABLES OF CHOICE:

1. Juvederm (Voluma is fabulous!)
2. Radiesse
3. Restylane
4. Sculptra
5. Botox/Brotox/Dysport

OK…CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION SOON! You have choices to make to look fabulous.   See www.DAVinciplastic.com.

Dr. Davison

A SERIOUS LEVEL OF SKILL IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM INJECTABLE TREATMENTS and to GET BEAUTIFUL, DESIRABLE RESULTS. These are experts and are qualified to give injectable treatments:  Board Certified Plastic Surgeons; Facial Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists or Oculoplastic Surgeons, specially trained RN’s, CRN’s or PA’s who work directly under a surgeons supervision.  The KEY WORDs to look for in their advertising is:  Specially Trained Expert Injector.   These people have specialized training, are certified in injectables of every kind and have a vast knowledge base of their best uses, the risks involved, their history and much more.

PEOPLE NOT QUALIFIED TO PERFORM INJECTABLE TREATMENTS: include aestheticians, hair stylists, cosmetologists, dentists or medical professionals who have not been specifically trained to use today’s injectables. They are not Expert Injectors.

TRUST YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE:  The only place you should get injectable treatments performed is in your doctor’s/surgeon’s office or Medi-Spa within that office under the physician’s direct supervision.  DO NOT GET INJECTABLES AT YOUR LOCAL SPA or SALON!  They are not qualified nor medically equipped for routine injections or for emergencies in cases of injury or health complications.  They are not required to follow medically defined sterility and health standards and they are not supervised by an on site doctor who is responsible, trained and experienced.  HTTP://www.davinciplastic.com.

INJECTABLES DO PREVENT LINES and WRINKLES and LIFT SAGGING SKIN…Today’s injectables are truly amazing and they do achieve results either instantly or gradually and subtly.

BOTOX®  is the well known “denerving agent” used to smooth out existing lines and to prevent future ones.  FDA approved in 2002, Botox works by relaxing/paralyzing the muscles in motion that create smile lines, forehead lines, parentheses between the eyes and Botox, (Botulinum Toxin Type A) has been used therapeutically since the early 1950’s for treating spasms, uncontrollable blinking and  much more and today successfully treats chronic Migraine Headaches, excessive sweating etc. and is a leader in cosmetic anti aging treatments.

HYALURONIC ACIDS:  HA is a naturally occurring body substance that declines with aging.  Similar to a sponge, HA attracts and binds to water to keep the skin hydrated and well contoured.  Hyaluronic acid fills in the spaces between collagen and elastin fibers.  Replacing it with injectable treatments means putting back into your body a substance natural to and recognized by the body…it’s accepted, works well and restores youthfulness!  Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane are top choices to replace depleted Hyaluronic Acid.

COLLAGEN BOOSTERS:  These provide long lasting results while stimulating your own collagen production.  Sculptra offers results often lasting up to 24 months and is excellent for filling in hollow cheeks, under eye hollows, nasolabial folds, thin lips and is used in combination with Restylane e.g. to create smoothness around the eye and tear troughs. RADIESSE also is very popular as a collagen booster and provides long lasting results while your own collagen is renewed.

FAT GRAFTING/FAT INJECTIONS using your own body…when injected into targeted areas, plumps up, restores contour, fills in hollows and rejuvenates an aging face, hollow hands and more.  It’s natural, with no risk of rejection or reaction.  Results are subtle and continue over time.

BOTTOM LINE ON INJECTABLES:  We help you decide your best choices to achieve more volume, lifting, to banish lines and wrinkles and to restore a more youthful look!

READY TO GET STARTED…WE CAN HELP YOU PUT YOUR BEST SELF FORWARD!

BEST TO YOU AND YOURS,

Steven Davison, M.D.

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

Rejuvenate the Eyes to restore youthfulness

The eyes aging path eyes is quite complex, but simply, it starts with visible lines and wrinkles that progress over the years. The eyes are one of the first areas of the face to show aging due to thinned skin and unwelcome fatty deposits (undereye bags) along with dark circles and hollows.

Today’s Mini Eye Procedures are quick and precise….Rejuvenate the eyes and take 10 years off your face instantly!

Benefits of Today’s Refined Eye Surgeries:

• Results are more natural than ever before by retaining expression in the brows and upper and lower lids for men and women.
• Recovery is fairly easy.  Today’s Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) facial rejuvenation procedures….has minimized discomfort and significantly reduced recovery times.
•  Eyes heal well.  The skin on the eyes heals quickly and scars blend in with natural skin creases so they’re inconspicuous.

• What Patients Want me to Fix:  1) hooded, droopy, deflated lids, 2) puffiness, 3) hollowness, 4) Crow’s Feet and wrinkles.

Hooded Eyes  Aging causes internal structural changes in the skin, bone and soft tissue of the eye.  When the bone changes the brow and lid may droop…”hooding” occurs. Hooded eyelids usually interfere with visual fields to obstruct your vision while creating an aged, sad, closed eye look.

How we fix it:  Traditional Blepharoplasty removes the excess, hooded skin.  A BrowLIft is usually done in tandem to correct forehead wrinkles and restore the brow to it’s more youthful position.

More Patients (men and women) in their 40’s and 50’s choose today’s revolutionary injectable brow lifts…to avoid surgery for several more years.

Puffy Lower Eyes are caused by weakened skin while aging/stretched muscles and tendons allow displaced fat highlighted by dark circles and hollows.

Bulges Using Lower Blepharoplasty I remove excess fat/skin and tighten lax muscles/tendons.  Filling in hollows corrects lines and restores definition.

Today’s Revolutionary Way is quick, easy and effective for patients (40’s-50’s) without too much puffiness, and involves restoring volume with fillers such as Restylane or your own body fat.

Hollow Eyes (Tear Trough) actually appear sunken from loss of soft tissue volume in the orbit and loss of bone density while aging.  Genetics predispose certain people to hollow eyes…that develop as early as the teen years.  Grooves form at the bottom of the eyelid  and dark circles often appear.

Fat and Fillers, Restore Volume, provide lift and vanish Hollows  I can’t say enough about the benefits of fat injections/grafting…it’s natural, your body does not reject it and it’s long lasting.  I also offer today’s amazing injectables and help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Crow’s Feet, Lines and Wrinkles… many lines and wrinkles are corrected with Blepharoplasty (upper/lower) and the rest respond beautifully to volume restoration using fillers also called liquid lifts.  Botox is the champ for preventing future wrinkling…Injectables I use today offer immediate rejuvenating results, and optimize any surgery.  Read more at: http://www.DAVinciplastic.com

A recent study evolved out the Beauty field reports that 80% of those surveyed would want only a qualified, facial plastic surgeon to treat their aging face.  

Hope you’re having a great, sunburn free summer!  Remember the hat, glasses, sunscreen, water….and see my other blogs for being safe in the summer months.

Steven Davison M.D.

At DAVinci….I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.

KISS YOUR LIP LINES GOOD BYE…Look years younger instantly!

My last blog dealt with the aging chin and neck also referred to as the lower one third of the face.  I would be remiss if I didn’t cover the topic of aging lips.  Lips age right along with the rest of the face.  This is seen as collagen and elastin levels decline causing the skin’s scaffolding (support system) to breakdown while forcing the formation of lines and wrinkles.  These unwelcome, often unsightly, lines appear around the mouth…the most noticeable being above the upper lip (Smoker’s Lines).  At the same time your once luscious lips start thinning and facial balance/youthfulness flees.

CAUSES of LIP LINES and THIN LIPS

Loss of collagen and elastin, years of “pursing” the lips, smoking, excess sun exposure, poor nutrition, dehydration, illness etc. are frequent causes of lip aging and facial lines.  Some people are just born with thin lips…and come to me to give them the lips they’ve never had but always wanted!

FILLERS to ELIMINATE LINES…CREATE PLUMP BEAUTIFUL LIPS

Nothing compares with the instant transformation and long lasting results of today’s liquid fillers (injectable dermal fillers) to erase wrinkles and restore volume, plumpness and contour to facial areas.  The lips get immediate, remarkable results that my patients absolutely love.  I recommend and use hyaluronic acid fillers  that are safe and effective.

EXPERT INJECTOR vs NON EXPERT

Coupled with my injector training, comprehensive understanding of the complex facial anatomy and the right formula for each patient…my artistic and surgical skills are combined to achieve wonderful outcomes.

Did you know:

Over 1.2 million doctors are legally allowed to perform injectable treatments in the United States...BUT

Less than 7% qualify as an expert injector.

All Expert Injectors are board certified plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, dermatologists and oculoplastic surgeons who have demonstrated extreme due diligence in regards to patient safety, reliable results and consumer education.  Expert injectors are properly qualified to perform injectable procedures and will only administer products that are FDA approved for aesthetic use.

ABOUT EXPERT INJECTORS:

• ALL HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED BY THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURER…
• ALL EDUCATE THEIR PATIENTS ON THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE…EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
• ALL EMPLOY CORRECT PROTOCOLS TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL ADVERSE REACTIONS
• ALL KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OF INJECTABLES PERFORMED FOR EACH PATIENT

INJECTABLE FILLERS TODAY…CHOICES

I offer my patients the safest, most advanced…but tried and proven fillers available including:  Juvederm®, Radiesse®, Restylane®, Sculptra® and Fat Grafting (gets amazing long lasting results). All treatments are customized to achieve your goals and desires and are done in office…often during a lunch hour!

Ready for a quick makeover?  Nose, Chin, Lips…we can do it in time for summer vacations etc.  Let’s talk now.

I’m here to hep you put and keep your best face forward.

Dr. Steven Davison

AT DAVinci…I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.