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PHONE: (828) 526-3783 | TOLL-FREE: (877) 526-3784

209 Hospital Dr #202
Highlands, NC 28741

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How to Make Your Skincare More Effective

How to Make Your Skincare More Effective

“Skin care” is a term that we use in two ways. We use it to describe the products that we apply to cleanse and treat the skin, and also to describe the act of caring for the skin. Because the term is interchangeable, there is a risk of blurring the lines between the two. People who wash their face and apply moisturizer or a serum or two often believe that this is sufficient effort to get the results they want. It’s not. Here, we discuss the common mistakes that people make with skin care and what needs to be done instead.

Mistake Number One

The most common mistake that people make in caring for their skin is not knowing exactly what their skin even needs. This is no fault of their own. Manufacturers of mass-produced cleansers, moisturizers, and specialty products are savvy about promoting the benefits of their items without acknowledging the lack of clinical efficacy or even making them seem efficacious when they are not. The only way to get clinical results from products is to use medical-grade products that have been picked out for your unique cosmetic and dermatologic needs by a medical professional.

Mistake Number Two

In addition to choosing products based on the marketing seen on television and in magazines or what your mother or grandmother told you, what many people mistakenly do is use those products routinely for months or years on end. The problem with this approach is that most of what is sold either does not do what the skin needs or actually does more harm than good.If professional treatments are utilized, they are usually chosen without any thought of how they fit one’s total skin care needs.

We Can Help You Correct These Mistakes

We divide ski care into Basic, Basic Plus, and Rejuvenative. Basic is what everyone needs, no matter their age, essentially from birth. It consists of a cleanser, a pH balancer (cleansing disturbs the normal pH, which causes the skin not to function well for a while), and a good practical sun block (we prefer clear zinc oxide). The pH balancer can be a simple acidic toner or an acidic serum, like Vitamin-C or something similar, depending on your other needs. Once a teenager, an alpha hydroxy product to remove thickened outer dead cells is added to Basic Skin Care. Professional treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion are inexpensive, convenient, and comfortable and can help remove built-up dirt, oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells.

The body stops continually making new collagen to thicken the dermis, the support layer of the skin, and elastin that provides the skin its elasticity around 30 years of age. Therefore, Basic Plus adds retinol or Retin-A to continue the skin making collagen and Obagi’s ELASTIderm to stimulate elastin somewhere around 30 years of age. Although there are thousands of products available, this is all most people need, unless they have significant damage from the sun or other insults.

With problems, modifying skin care to address the specific problem is all most people will need. However, it takes an expert in skin care and rejuvenation to determine what will work best with the least effort and expense.

At the Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, NC, we help patients manage their skin in ways that get results. We use only medical-grade products products that have been proven to achieve results. We also have professional treatments like peels, microdermabrasion, IPL light treatments, and laser resurfacing to provide a full spectrum of care.

Get the help you need to keep your skin resilient through the aging process. Call  (828) 526-3783.

Chin Up! Dr. Buchanan Now Offers KYBELLA®

KybellaChin Up! Dr. Buchanan Now Offers KYBELLA®

If you are looking for a way to reduce the appearance of your “double chin,” you are not alone. Loving the neck area is something many men and women struggle with – especially as they age. KYBELLA® to the rescue!

What is KYBELLA® and how does it work?

KYBELLA® is an injectable, prescription medicine that can improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin. This type of fat is called submittal fat and is the primary cause of a “double chin.”

The active ingredient in KYBELLA® is deoxycholic acid, a naturally-occurring molecule in the body that aids in the absorption and breakdown of dietary fat.

When KYBELLA® is injected beneath your chin, it causes the destruction of fat cells, and once these cells are destroyed, they cannot store or accumulate additional fat.

KYBELLA® is available as treatments, and because everyone is unique, Dr. Buchanan will help you decide how many treatments you will need to achieve your desired aesthetic results. Once you are happy with your neck once again, re-treatment with KYBELLA® is not expected.

What else do you need to know about KYBELLA®?

Before you schedule a KYBELLA® treatment, be sure to tell Dr. Buchanan about any medical conditions you have; the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking; if you have had or plan to have surgery on your face, chin or neck, or if you have had cosmetic treatments to these areas. Let him know if you have trouble swallowing, have bleeding problems, are taking a blood-thinner, are breast-feeding or are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You cannot receive a KYBELLA® treatment if you have an infection in or near the treatment area.

Are there side effects associated with KYBELLA®?

KYBELLA® can cause serious side effects, including nerve injury to the jaw, or trouble swallowing. The most common side effects of KYBELLA® are bruising, pain, redness, swelling and numbness, as well as areas of possible hardness in the treatment area.

Call today, to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Buchanan to discuss the benefits of this amazing new treatment.

What Do You Know About Chin Augmentation Surgery?

 chin augmentationIf you feel that your chin is poorly shaped, does not compliment your other facial elements, is small, or recedes, a chin implant (chin augmentation surgery) may be the perfect surgical option for you. Although not as common as other procedures, this unique surgery can add proportion and balance to your chin. Chin augmentation is accomplished with implants which can increase the size or modify the shape of your chin.

If you haven’t heard much about chin augmentation, here are 10 interesting facts:

  1. A chin implant is made of a silicone material and is shaped somewhat like the narrow chin guard of a sports helmet. It is placed through an incision under your chin.
  2. Chin augmentation surgery takes about one hour; recovery is typically quick.
  3. Men typically pursue chin implants to achieve a squarer, more masculine chin.
  4. Women opt for chin augmentation to enhance a chin that is too small or droopy.
  5. Chin augmentation offers many aesthetic benefits for those who have a recessed, pointed or square chin, a prominent nose or a fleshy neck.
  6. Chin implant surgery will create a permanent change in your appearance. It won’t make you look like someone else, but it can enhance and balance your features.
  7. Chin augmentation may be performed in conjunction with a rhinoplasty (“nose job”), eyelid surgery, a facelift or a forehead lift.
  8. If you have reasonable goals and expectations and are in good health, you would be a good candidate for chin augmentation surgery.
  9. During your consultation, Buchanan will discuss the relationship of your chin to your other facial features, and will make a recommendation based on these factors and your concerns and desires.
  10. After the surgery, you will have some mild bruising and swelling that can last a few days. Dr. Buchanan will advise you as to what to watch for as far as excessive or abnormal swelling or bruising.

If you have additional questions about chin augmentation surgery, call to request a consultation or contact us online.

Thank you for your business over the years! Dr. Buchanan is closing his practice and the Center For Plastic Surgery's last day open will be January 31, 2023.

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