Non-Surgical Treatments for an Improved Look

In the past several years, plastic surgeons have heard patients loud and clear. As effective as surgical procedures are, the vast majority of patients would like to address the signs of aging and other cosmetic objectives without setting foot in the operating room. We understand the draw of nonsurgical cosmetic treatments. We also understand the value of them, their safety, and what they can accomplish with little, if any, downtime. In our Highlands, NC office, we offer a wide range of nonsurgical treatments to refresh and improve your look. 

A Little Something to Keep in Mind

Nonsurgical anti-aging and cosmetic treatments are safe, effective, and convenient. With newer products and techniques many are lasting significantly longer than previously and some have even replaced more invasive procedures. More involved and generally surgical methods are needed if the problem is excess skin. However, a great deal of aging is from loss of dermal support and volume of fat, muscle, and bone. Both of these are treatable with non-surgical means. Let’s take a look at some of our most popular non-surgical treatment options for a younger, more radiant appearance.

Nonsurgical Facial Enhancement

Facial enhancements are performed both to correct the signs of aging and to bring more symmetry and proportion to the face.

In younger patients, most procedures are to improve inherited traits such as lip asymmetries or size or under eye depressions caused by low attachment of the muscles there. Some nasal problems are also amenable to filler correction.

In older individuals, we usually replace volume loss or treat wrinkles. The former is generally a filler off the shelf such as one of the Juvederm family or your own fat. Fat was initially the method of choice since it is quite long lasting when done properly. However, with the introduction of Radiesse in 2005, which could last several years, and later in 2015 of Juvederm Voluma, which can last many years, fat transfer became less popular. We treat wrinkles initially with Botox to stop the underlying muscles from causing wrinkles if stopping the muscle from functioning has no needed functional deficit. We now treat established wrinkles with the new less dense fillers and methods to stimulate collagen instead of lasers and deep peels.

We all use of these methods Today’s Liquid Lift, a customized treatment developed by Dr. Buchanan after years of performing facelift surgeries. The liquid facelift that he performs is tailored to correct the exact problems that one has with the fastest results and least invasion. This may include various injectables, fat grafting, and Botox as needed to fully refresh and rejuvenate the face with minimal downtime.

Your facial rejuvenation can begin now. Contact our Highlands, NC office at (828) 526-3783 to schedule your visit. earache

Recently, we’ve seen the meteoric rise in filler use among adults of all ages. Soft tissue fillers like those in the Juvéderm family are known for achieving consistent results whether the goal is to smooth wrinkles and folds or plump areas of the face that have lost their volume and normal contour. The cheeks and area below the eyes are prime areas where this happens, and treatment using Juvéderm Voluma XC is one of the best ways to correct these problems.

What is Juvéderm Voluma?

Several products make up the Juvéderm family of fillers. All of them are made of varying compilations and consistencies of hyaluronic acid (HA). This chemical is a naturally-occurring sugar compound that the body uses to keep the skin, joints, and eyes lubricated and to produce new collagen, which thickens the skin and supports the surrounding tissues. The Juvéderm products also contain lidocaine, an anesthetic that reduces discomfort during injections. Juvéderm Voluma has been developed with a heavier consistency to achieve specific results. There is, in fact, only one other filler nearly as thick as Voluma.

Having a denser consistency, Voluma XC can build more structure beneath the skin. The name of the product, Voluma, indicates its purpose, to restore structural volume of the tissues. This filler was the first to be FDA-approved for cheek enhancement. As we age, this part of the face loses its shape. The fat pads that overlay the cheekbones and make them look more pronounced decrease in volume over time. As the face loses volume, the tissues descended as far as the next ligament and folds resultat teh ligament and depressions occur above. By midlife, the mid-face looks rather flat and, as a result, the lower face looks wider, fuller and saggy. Occasionally a similar appearance occurs from congenital anatomic variations and younger individuals look older than their actual age. When Voluma XC is placed on the bony of the cheek, it elevates, rounds, and firms the overlying tissues.

What to Expect During and After Voluma Treatment

Filler treatments are very popular but that does not make them right for everyone. We conduct a consultation and brief assessment of the skin, underlying muscle and bone structure, and facial volume to make sure that an injectable can achieve the desired outcome. The treatment itself takes only a few minutes. Injection is done using a very thin cannula through the absolute minimum of skin punctures. The Voluma is carefully placed on the underlying bone under where extra volume is needed. This technique not only is safer than use of a sharp needle, it is more controlled and gives superior results. Thanks to the lidocaine and tiny cannula, there is minimal discomfort.

Results are visible as soon as the Voluma treatment is complete,. You may experience short-lived firmness and swelling for a day or so. Except occasionally at the point of entry through the skin, there is almost never any bruising. To reduce the risk of bruising further you should avoid strenuous exercise for the first 8 hours after injections.

We can help if you have a congenital volume deficit or believe you are aging. Call our Highlands, NC office at (828) 526-3783 to explore what Juvéderm Voluma can do for you.

Science hasn’t yet pinpointed a way for us to bypass the signs of aging. It has, however, given us numerous techniques and technologies that help us manage the cosmetic effects of getting older. Many of the problems we have as we age have to do with the loss of the support of the skin, either the dermal portion of the skin or the underlying fat or bone. This knowledge has led to the development of several soft tissue fillers, many of them contained within the Juvéderm family of fillers.

The Juvéderm product line of fillers are all cross linked hyaluronic acid. This naturally-occurring chemical is the basis of collagen that is the support layer of the skin and the deeper support structures. Normal hyaluronic acid particles absorb water molecules  and hold them in place for an extended period. The crosslinking, however, can modify this characteristic. Here, we explain what sets the various Juvéderm fillers apart.

JUVÉDERM ULTRA XC

Ultra XC was one of the first hyaluronic fillers developed. It and Ultra Plus XC (a heavier product that I do not use now) are the only fillers in the Juvéderm line that absorb and hold onto significant water. This allows us to get more fill than the specific amount injected. It is frequently used to give more volume to the lips and other superficial soft tissue areas. Here, it is soft enough to feel natural and dense enough to increase fullness.

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA XC

Volbella is a Juvéderm filler that has been developed specifically for lip enhancement. Why would the maker do this when they already have ULTRA XC to add volume to the lips? Because some people don’t want such a substantial volume increase or just need a little finesse to the area. Also, because the mouth is a delicate area that can develop ultra-fine lines around the edges. Volbella is a lighter-weight filler and, thanks to Vycross technology, does not absorb water. It is ideal for mild augmentation and adding subtle definition to the borders of the lips. It also is excellent for filling fine lines and providing support just under the skin opposite to the wrinkle direction to stiffen the skin and provide a matrix that the body can use to make new collagen. These are things you cannot do with Ultra.

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC

Voluma is aptly named for its primary objective. This filler is the first, and really the only, of its kind in the hyaluronic acid realm. It is also Vycross technology, which makes it excellent for use around the eyes where water absorption can cause problems. It’s density and molecular structure are intended for deeper insertion near the bone or in the deeper subcutaneous layer. This allows contouring, particular in the cheek area, correcting flattening or a sunken appearance. Voluma is specifically indicated tor tear trough correction of under eye bags. It is, in fact, the safest filler for this purpose, and use of any other hyaluronic acid filler is now considered inappropriate except for very specific exceptions.

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE XC

Like ULTRA XC, Vollure is soft enough that it is excellent for the lips and other soft tissue areas, but is heavy enough to support the cheeks where it can be molded and also retain flexibility during facial expressions.

The Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, NC is dedicated to the most conservative, minimally-invasive treatments. We use the different Juvéderm products depending on the specific problem as a part of this, what we call Today’s Liquid Lift.  To see if these products can help you or to learn more about Juvéderm and their use with other non surgical treatments, call (828) 526-3783.

The signs of aging create concern for many adults. As tissue loses firmness and resiliency, lines on the forehead and around the eyes, nose, and mouth worsen. In time, the changes in facial structure need to be addressed in more profound ways. Historically, the way to restore a more youthful appearance has been to undergo facelift surgery. When we hear the term facelift, it is surgery that comes to mind for most people. Today, we have another non-surgical option to consider. For patients of our Highlands, NC office, that option is Today’s Liquid Lift™.

What Is A Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift is a nonsurgical, minimally-invasive procedure for revitalizing the face. Treatment involves the strategic use of fillers to correct volume loss, one of the most common signs of aging. The Liquid Facelift has been around for many years now and has been refined by experienced physicians like Dr. Buchanan. Where the many Liquid Facelifts typically includes fillers only, our technique incorporates Botox and fat injections as needed to achieve optimal results.

Dr. Buchanan developed Today’s Liquid Lift in response to seeing many patients encounter re-aging after an initial facelift. Many of the patients who visit a plastic surgeon have no dramatic signs of aging on the neck to address but have a desire to restore more youthful contours to the face. Surgery may not be the ideal solution to achieve this objective. This is especially true since many of the surgical methods used by many physicians actually further thin the face.

Today’s Liquid Lift addresses the signs of aging that result from natural deflation in subcutaneous tissue. As volume is lost in the mid face, cheek or under the eyes, the now loose skin and tissue descend downward. They are stopped by ligaments attached deep resulting in a depression under the ligament and fullness above it. This creates under eye bags, depressions in the cheek with loss of the youthful cheek curve, and nasolabial and marionette folds around the nose and mouth. In the past, nasolabial folds were treated as an individual problem. Filling these creases with fillers may soften their appearance but it does nothing for the original problem. By neglecting the deflated tissue in the malar and cheek areas, there is a potential to increase the squareness of the face and actually worsen the appearance of aging.

A youthful face is triangular. There is more width near the top of the face, transitioning into a narrow jawline and chin. Today’s Liquid Lift restores volume in the malar area (the mid-face). In so doing, this technique naturally elevates the tissue that has begun to droop. Filing over the malar bone below the orbital rim also refreshes the face by smoothing the transition of skin between the upper cheek and the lower eyelid. This technique camouflages puffiness without the risk of swelling in the tear trough area.

Experience the Benefits of a Liquid Facelift

A Liquid Facelift is advantageous for several reasons. It is nonsurgical, convenient, incurs no downtime, and achieves good results. Today’s Liquid Lift offers all of these benefits and more thanks to refined techniques.

Learn more about nonsurgical facial rejuvenation. Call (828) 526-3783 to schedule your consultation.

Let’s face it: unless you’re a teenager trying to pass for 21, no matter how old you are, you want to look younger. Because aging gracefully is now more attainable than ever, there are a variety of surgical and non-invasive treatments that we offer patients here at the Center for Plastic Surgery. Whether you’re in your twenties or significantly older, fillers are one of the most popular noninvasive procedures that we use to help soften fine lines and wrinkles and add more volume to the face and lips.

Two similar injectables that we have offered here at our office to add volume to the cheeks, under-eye, pre-jowl, and nose are Radiesse and Juvederm Voluma. Although both of these injectables are fillers designed for the same problem, they are different. These differences have caused us to prefer one over the other. Let’s take a closer look.

Radiesse®

Radiesse has been used for cosmetic purposes since 2005 and was the first soft tissue filler that was heavy enough to elevate the deep tissue and help with volume loss under the eye, in the cheeks, and in the pre-jowl area. Made from calcium hydroxylapatite— a naturally occurring compound in the body used in cleft palate repair in children for many years— Radiesse works on two levels. When it is initially injected, it works to automatically add more volume to the area but it also works to encourage your body’s natural production of collagen— which helps make the results last longer than other fillers before it. The average longevity is 18 months. Its biggest drawback is its lack of reversibility.

Juvederm Voluma®

Here at our office, we offer a variety of  Juvederm fillers used for different purposes, but we are going to focus on Juvederm Voluma. Voluma hasn’t been around for as long as Radiesse but took off when it was released in 2014 because of its safety and longevity. Made from hyaluronic acid, also a naturally occurring substance but reversible, Voluma works the same as Radiesse by filling deep spaces to help add more volume. It, too, unlike any other filler other than Radiesse, is heavy enough to support the tissues. It lasts a minimum of 2 years and we have seen it last well beyond 3 years. Because the price per month of longevity is less than Radiesse and, because of its reversibility making it safer, it is now our preferred filler for volume replacement. We combine it with the other Juvederm products to give you the best results for whatever problem you have that fillers can correct.

If you want to learn more about fillers, schedule a consultation at our Highlands office today by calling us at (828) 526-3783.

Celebrities like Kylie Jenner have made plumping up virtually every part of the face not only covetable but sexy as well. However, while a lot of women— young and old— have sought out the help of fillers like Juvederm and Restylane to help add volume to their cheeks and lips, fillers are gaining more and more popularity for a different reason: to smooth out the face or return it to normal contours. To help you understand why this benefit is gaining more traction, we have created a brief guide. Read on to learn more.

It Looks More Natural

Eating a diet full of natural ingredients and using all-natural makeup and skin care is a trend that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Now, more than ever, people want to know exactly what they’re putting in and on their body, and what it’s doing to them. Along those same lines, people are starting to like the idea of looking more natural. And, knowing what normal or natural is, when we at the Center For Plastic Surgery use a filler to smooth the skin or facial contour, it gives our patients a more subtle, and natural look overall— leaving you looking far from plastic. The older you are, the more likely you are to need to fill areas where soft tissue has been lost or gravity has made it look that way. In these cases, “plumping” is merely returning an area to its “normal” or natural, youthful contour.

It Is Good for All Age Groups

When it comes to fillers, there isn’t a designated age that we encourage our patients to start getting them. However, because even individuals in their 20’s start to lose some elasticity in their skin or have congenital depressions, fillers for smoothness are ideal for people of all ages. Whether you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and beyond, having smooth skin and rounded contours is always on trend.

The Juvéderm family of fillers (Ultra, Volbella, Vollure and Voluma) are some of the most popular fillers world wide. Additionally, they are our choice because of their compositions that provide the proper selection for what is needed anywhere in the skin or face and they last longer than anything similar. Derived from hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally occurring in the body, these fillers are a safe and natural a way to plump and smooth your skin and face. To learn more about these fillers or to schedule a consultation, contact the Center For Plastic Surgery today!