The eyelids, eyebrows and laugh lines are the areas which first show signs of aging. Rejuvenation of these areas is increasingly sought after by the younger patient. Resurfacing with creams, peels, microdermabrasion and lasers can push back the years as well as maintaining a smooth, youthful glow.
Eyelid and Eyebrow Surgery
Lower eyelid bags worsened by allergies and sinusitis can be "melted" away utilizing small incisions inside the eyelids. Fat taken from the stomach or waist injected into the grooves between the eyelid bags, nose and cheeks results in long lasting if not permanent improvement and smoothening. Excessive skin can be excised; eyebrows and outer eyelids can be elevated with small inconspicuous incisions.
The position and shape of the eyebrows is very important. The feminine eyebrow sits above the orbital rim and arches. The point of highest arch is usually right above the outer rim. A higher arching brow is associated with a more youthful, attractive appearance. Drooping of the brow will cause skin to droop onto the upper lid. Eyelid and eyebrow procedures usually take less than two hours and can be performed even with light sedation and local anesthesia. Minimal pain allows you to return to indoor activities quickly. Bruising and swelling typically lasts 12 days and requires use of reflective or tinted lenses to return to appear in public sooner.
Fine lines and wrinkling of the eyelid skin respond to retinoic acid creams. These can be applied three times weekly. Vitamins C and E have been shown to have significant antioxidant activity when applied with the proper carrier. Within a few months you will see gradual diminution of these lines and a healthier glow to your skin.
Dark circles of the lower eyelids may respond to the addition of hydroquinone bleaching creams. More intense lightening is accomplished by application of TCA, phenol peels and intense pulsed light (IPL) laser treatments. Patients experience long lasting results with mild discomfort from these brief office procedures. Let us help you with your rejuvenation/lightening program.
Fat Injections
Fat injections to the nasolabial folds from the nose to the corner of mouth and to the lower chin, lips, eyelid/cheek grooves and overlying the cheek bones are growing in popularity. Natural looking, long lasting results (may be permanent) make this Dr. Cenedese's preferred technique. For many patients, plumping of the cheeks, outer eyelids and lower facial regions can rejuvenate the face as much as a facelift with less risk, scarring and downtime. Fat is harvested with a 3mm cannula using local anesthesia from most unwanted fatty areas. Injection with small blunt cannula make this a safe and effective procedure with results lasting years. Fat may be refrigerated for repeat sessions within three days to further enhance results. Multiple donor sites are possible: who would not want us to take a little more from around the waist! Recuperation is minimal with most patients looking better within three days.
Neck Liposuction
Liposculpture of the "double chin" area in the upper neck and lower facial jowls is highly successful in defining the jaw line and neckline. This relatively painless office procedure is accomplished with local anesthesia and mild sedation. Fat is suctioned away through 3mm incisions below the chin. Results are noticeable in one week. Significant improvements are seen by six weeks. This procedure will often give better results than a face/neck lift, especially in the younger patient or the wide face/neck.
Lip Augmentation
Lip augmentation has become very popular. Full lips are not only sensual but they will also give you a more youthful appearance. Lips can be made fuller with injections or implants. We have several options to enhance the upper, lower or both lips exist. Injectable fillers including Restylane, Hylaform Plus, Captique and Cymetra and last from several months to over a year. Minimal swelling is detected for one day after injection. Fat injections taken from the waist or thighs can give subtle but permanent enhancement. Marked swelling associated with this procedure can be diminished by injection of small amounts of fat.
Gortex (a soft woven plastic), Alloderm (human collagen) or temporal fascia can be inserted into the lips through small incisions inside the mouth to achieve permanent enhancement.
Facial Fillers
With the new technologies chemists have developed longer lasting hyaluronic acid injectables Restylane, Perlane and Juvaderm are appropriate to treat medium depth lines around the mouth, eyelids, and cheeks and to fill the lips. Radiesse is similar to hydroxyapetite, the major constituent of bony tissues, and can correct the smile lines from the mouth to the nose and the chin and between the brows for one year or more when combined with Botox in these areas. These products are relatively allergy free. Immediate results are noted with mild swelling which subsides overnight. Please check with the staff one week in advance to ensure we have your choice available.
Permanent Fillers
This most appealing group of procedures can give a permanent correction to the deeper folds surrounding the nose, mouth, lips and between the brows. Several different implant options are available include grafting of skin from an existing scar, facelift, eyelid or tummy tuck (otherwise discarded skin). Autologous tissue grafting continues to render the most long lasting, natural appearing results.
Synthetic materials including silicone, polymethylmethacrylate, latex, and gortex have been used successfully to yield permanent correction of these areas albeit with higher complication rates and occasional palpability. Careful consideration of long term changes in facial anatomy must be made in planning the location and amount of correction. Facial tissues may droop leaving these permanent bulges in inappropriate locations.
Facial Lasers and Dermabrasion
Lasers concentrating light energy are used to selectively burn the outer layers of skin. Dermabrasion achieves a similar resurfacing by sanding off the superficial layers of skin. Laser resurfacing causes contraction of skin collagen further smoothening and lightening the skin. Long lasting improvent is obtained for eyelid, forehead and facial wrinkles and lines. Dermabrasion is best suited for upper lip lines, acne and traumatic scars. Oozing lasts for a day or two, redness for one to two weeks. Avoiding sun exposure is important after any of these peels, resurfacing or retinoic acid cream use.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion using fine crystals, gently "sandblasts" the outer layer of skin. This results in smoother skin, improvement in pores and blackheads as well as coloration. A short office procedure is associated with minimal discomfort and redness. Microdermabrasion is best repeated every 6-8 weeks.
Contact us to set up a consultation to help to decide which option is best for you.
