No matter how smooth, firm and wrinkle free someone’s face is – a drooping, weathered and wrinkled neck can take away from any youthful appearance. So unless you want to be wearing a turtle neck or scarf year round, take care of your neck.

If you’re already seeing  signs of aging,  don’t worry – I can help. There are a variety of ways to rejuvenate the neck and take years off your overall aging appearance.

Why Rejuvenate the Neck… Although it’s technically not part of the face, having a smooth, trim neck profile can dramatically restore an overall natural and youthful appearance. A youthful neck contour not only makes the patient appear younger, but also elegant and refined. The neck also can have a significant aging (or anti aging) effect on the profile.

How the Neck Ages… Understanding the underlying muscles of the neck and how they are affected by the aging process will help you understand why the neck ages and how. The platysma muscle is immediately under the skin of the neck. In our youth, it is tight and meets in the middle of the neck under the chin. You can easily see this muscle in the mirror when you clench your teeth and tighten your jaw. As we age, the right and left sides of the platysma muscle come apart, which creates the look of vertical bands in the neck. Also, as the skin loses elasticity with age, the lower part of the face and neck show the effects most dramatically. This results in sagging, drooping jowel and waddle under the chin.
Reverse Aging of the Neck… I have extensive study and experience in face and neck rejuvenation.  They are my specialty. The most effective surgical options for rejuvenating the neck are liposuction, cervicoplasty and the neck lift, technically called a platysmaplasty …which is named after the muscle in the neck that the surgery corrects.

Liposuction: Generally speaking, my younger clients who want more definition between their jawline and neck  and who still have good skin elasticity and strong muscles are good candidates for liposuction.
Cervicoplasty: This procedure is geared towards people only concerned with the double chin or excess neck waddle.
Platysmaplasty: A neck lift deals with more midline neck correction of muscles to improve the chin and neck, and the removal of extra skin and fat.

Without a doubt, the neck is a major contributor to an overall youthful  appearance. The aesthetics of a defined jawline and long flat neck is apparent in every magazine and on every movie screen. I will get into more details on each aspect of surgical rejuvenation of the neck in next week’s blog.

In the hands of a specialist like myself, these surgeries for the removal of fat and excess skin, and tightening of the muscles, are sure to result in an attractive neck contour and rejuvenated appearance.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation, www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

In just a few days February 2014 will be ushered in.  February is known for it’s “sweetheart” day otherwise called Valentine’s Day.  We envision hearts, cupids, Valentine cards, Roses, special chocolate treats, dinner in a luxurious environment, handsome men and beautiful women with gorgeous red, well shaped but soft and supple lips. For many women…the well shaped, pouty, soft and supple lips are a thing of the past, but they don’t have to be.  If you start now, you can have the lips of your dreams before Valentine’s Day (February 14).  Read on as I blog about Lip enhancement and other ways to restore beautiful, youthful lips now.

AGING LIPS, VERTICAL LIP LINES and more…

Lip puckering involves pursing the lips, a motion that forces formation of vertical lines above the top lip.  Along with this, loss of collagen and elastin contributes to lines, loss of lip shape and color.  This makes you look older and allows your lipstick to bleed beyond your lips.  These are contributors also:

• Smoking (regular/frequent lip pursing)
• Excess sun exposure
• Poor skin care
• Being under hydrated

These can be easily dealt with:  exfoliate away all dry skin, moisturize regularly, quit smoking, use sunscreen, get into a regular, healthy skin care routine, and stay well hydrated with at least 64oz of pure water everyday!  However, normal aging, minus the bad habits, inflicts losses in every part of the body… lips not excluded.  To get those beautiful, youthful lips back by Valentine’s Day, I offer these “hot” options.

LIP ENHANCEMENT to restore FULLER SHAPE for GORGEOUS, YOUTHFUL, SWEETHEART LIPS

Age related loss of collagen results in lines, mouth wrinkles, less shapely and less colorful lips.  Injectable Filler Lip enhancement is today’s top fast fix to minimize those lines and restore healthy, beautiful lips instantly, without surgery. Collagen causes facial structures to deflate and sag, hence the lines show up.  Hyaluronic Acid fillers offer dramatic results.  The results are not permanent but can be easily maintained while your body learns to regenerate it’s own collagen again.

ABOUT INJECTABLE FILLERS for the LIPS

When fixing your lips – stear clear of permanent injections and silicone; even though they may be FDA approved.  Permanent fillers often results in lumps and bumps which can require surgery to correct and silicone is permanent…so if you don’t like the outcome you just have to live with it.  You want avoid overfilling (Duck Lips) and under filling also.

HA fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane can create fuller, plumper lips.  There are two types of candidates for lip enhancement using injectables:  1) needs volume, 2) needs to balance their other facial features. Your surgeon must understand the complex facial anatomy and be specially trained as an “Expert Injector.” An Expert Injectors knows the face, the products and how to match the right treatment with each individual need.  Know before you go!  See my website for more info on Lip Augmentation/Enhancement: www.davinciplastic.com.

ABOUT COLLAGEN…Collagen is the foundation of all connective skin tissue.  It supports the skin’s structure, thus it is essential for youthful looking skin.  As we age, the body produces less collagen causing the skin to thin, lose firmness and form wrinkles. Choose your foods for collagen generation:  organic celery, cucumbers, tropical fruits, green drinks, tomatoes, citrus fruits/smoothies and more are excellent in helping the body make collagen.

In today’s economy more people are seeking ways to cut costs. Bargain Injectable Treatments have been proven to not be bargains!  Please don’t bargain with your face.  More on that next blog.

Let’s talk about your lip enhancement right away. 

Steven Davison M.D.

“All cosmetic surgery should be functional and all reconstructive surgery should be aesthetic and look as natural as possible.”

With Christmas just around the corner and all the parties, events and galas we attend…we are all faced with the same challenges as during Thanksgiving.  We tend to overeat, under exercise and often get into trouble. Here are a few tips (some repeats) to help keep you on track to avoid weight gain, skin outbreaks, sluggishness and regrets about not being stronger!  Start applying these now and you won’t skip a beat!  See:https://www.davinciplastic.com.

1.  Understand your metabolism.  Each person is different and will burn calories at a different rate.

2.  Avoid repeated high calorie meals…for example enjoy Christmas dinner and avoid ongoing eating of the heavy foods.

3.  Eat more living foods (raw fruits & vegetables) like salads.

4.  Eat a filling low calorie meal before heading into the kitchen to cook for the crowd.

5.  Diet before the big day and after it….never diet on party or family reunion days.

6.  Eat smaller portions and still satisfy hunger by chewing your food until it is “liquid.”

7. Immediately freeze leftovers so you’re not tempted to keep eating these rich, calorie dense goodies too handy.

8.  Get back on track with a lighter, healthy diet the next day.

9.  Exercise to suppress hunger pangs.  Often, we’re not really hungry but may be thirsty instead. Drink plenty of pure water and walk 45 minutes each day on a treadmill.  This is scientifically proven to suppress false hunger and rev up your metabolism.

The average American adult gains 2+ pounds per year.  This starts early in life. Healthy lifestyle, healthy, living foods and pure water help the body maintain strength, vitality and normal weight.

WHAT’S NEW WITH INJECTABLE FILLERS?  At a recent Ultimate Skin Health Symposium in Beverly Hills,  Dr. Zein Obagi and Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald enlightened in this area.  To keep it brief:  in the past 4 to 5 years as new products have been in use,  we’ve learned more about the specifics of their uses.  The face is 3 dimensional…but normal aging causes it to become 2 dimensional as volume is lost and sagging occurs. Women then typically use makeup to camouflage these aging changes….to hide hollows, lines, wrinkles and droopiness…as much as possible.  As surgeons, we’ve learned how makeup effectively works and began applying those same principles to the use of injectable fillers.  Simply put, inject the places on the face where you would normally use makeup to coverup. This way, the fillers take years off the face instantly while highlighting your own natural beauty.

Facial filler injections give long lasting, natural results.  It’s truly a quick fix you still have time to do… so you can put your best, most vibrant face forward and go into 2013 looking years younger…naturally.  Fat Grafting is very popular today…this two for one deal….removes body fat from an area of plenty (we can sculpt that area then) and grafts it into the facial areas you target.

Be Sure to choose an “expert injector.”  We have specialized training in the complex facial anatomy and use of today’s age defying products.

Liposculpting.…there’s still time to sculpt those areas that doggedly resist your every attempt to get rid of fat.  This can be combined with Fat Transfer.  You can look healthy, slim and trim...by liposculpting away those troublesome, resistant areas.

Implants can still be done….breast, cheeks, chin along with sculpting and lifting those areas.  And More.    If you want to treat yourself this year…let’s talk now and get to work!  December is the month for “gift giving” and it’s now that many men and women give themselves and others a gift of health and beauty.  We love to help you realize that dream!

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Steven Davison M.D.

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