At our day spa near Sonoma, I frequently tell patients that healthy skin is not a right; you have to earn it. People with smooth, soft, blemish-free complexions are not necessarily blessed with good genes. These individuals care for their skin on a regular basis and invest in medical spa treatments. To keep your skin in prime condition, here are my tips:

• Choose medical-grade skin care products. These formulas, which cannot be found at retail stores, contain high concentrations of active ingredients. Skin care products help to moisturize, protect and repair the skin for better overall skin quality. Clinical product lines such as Obagi®, SkinMedica® and SkinCeuticals® are all good options.
• Complement your skin care routine with medical spa treatments. Topical skin care products typically work on a superficial level. For longer-lasting changes, you have to reach the deeper layers of the dermis. Medical spa procedures such as chemical peels, laser treatments and injectable fillers can accomplish this goal. A twice-yearly or quarterly commitment should suffice, depending on the treatment chosen.
• Try a mineral makeup. Even healthy skin can look better with a little cosmetic intervention. Glō·minerals® is a line of mineral-based makeup that not only evens out the complexion but also protects the skin with pharmaceutical-grade antioxidants. Because Glō·minerals contains pure ingredients, there is very little risk for allergic reaction and the products are suitable for all skin types.

As men and women begin to notice the effects of gravity and the natural aging process on their faces, they often turn to my practice for information about cosmetic facial surgery. One of the most popular choices is a facelift for Palo Alto area patients, but many people who are just beginning to explore their options don’t know what this procedure actually does.

A facelift targets winkles and sagging skin on the bottom two-thirds of the face. While this is an excellent procedure for restoring a youthful appearance, many people need complementary procedures to address signs of aging on the forehead and winkles around the eyes. One of the most popular options is a brow lift, which helps to raise the eyebrows and reduce winkles on the forehead and between the brows.

For patients who want a nonsurgical answer to aging of the upper face, I recommend treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and injectable fillers. Although the results are temporary, nonsurgical treatments also can help create more complete, comprehensive results for facelift patients.

One of the questions that frequently comes up during consultations for minimally invasive liposuction at my Marin area practice is whether or not a less-invasive approach will give my patients the results they are looking for. Although traditional liposuction can remove more fat than the new minimally invasive methods, this does not mean that gentler methods of fat removal are ineffective. In fact, some of the gentler methods may be more beneficial, depending on your treatment goals and physical status.

For example, one less-invasive form of liposuction I offer is called SmartLipo MPX™. It uses laser energy to assist with fat removal. This procedure is excellent for ridding patients of 1 or 2 areas of frustrating fat. It’s also ideal for men and women with poor skin elasticity, a characteristic that sometimes does not respond well to traditional liposuction. The laser actually helps tighten the skin and encourage collagen formation, something that tumescent liposuction cannot do. This gives the patient a more toned appearance overall in addition to a more sculpted silhouette.

Before you decide on a procedure, be sure to discuss all of your options with your surgeon. This way, you can come to a mutual agreement about the best approach for your treatment.

As patients visit my practice with questions about how they can contour their bodies, I’ve noticed there is some confusion regarding which procedures are most likely to achieve the desired results. I recommend that tummy tuck patients in San Jose take time before choosing their surgery to consider exactly what they want to achieve.

Tummy tuck surgery differs from liposuction in that it targets only the abdomen and is typically more extensive. I recommend tummy tucks for patients who want to restore their bodies after pregnancy or who have lost significant amounts of weight and want to get rid of excess abdominal skin. While liposuction can remove small pockets of fat, it is not designed to tighten skin or remove stretch marks.

One of the main concerns of tummy tuck patients is what the recovery process will be like. Although the amount of time needed to recover depends on the extent of the surgery, it’s important that patients get an estimate from their doctor before the surgery and set aside a realistic recovery period. Failing to do so could lead to complications or unsatisfactory results.

Even though it is a major procedure, Tummy Tuck surgery is a great option for patients who are mentally and physically ready. If you think this may be the solution you’re looking for, I recommend talking with a qualified surgeon to learn more about what’s involved.

Advances in surgical techniques have paved the way for minimally invasive procedures for liposuction in San Jose. When choosing the appropriate procedure for you, it’s important to consider your body composition and your personal goals, and to explore all of your options.

Here are some of the most popular choices of my patients:

Tumescent Liposuction: This traditional liposuction method includes the injection of an anesthetic solution to increase effectiveness and control pain. A thin tube called a cannula is then inserted through small incisions to suction out fat.

Body-Jet® Liposuction: This technique includes a spray of fluid to dislodge fat and make fat removal easier. Once the fat is loosened, it is removed through a cannula. This technique is often used in conjunction with fat transfer procedures.

SmartLipo™: An alternative to traditional liposuction, SmartLipo uses laser technology to rupture fat cells. The cannula can then remove fat more easily with minimal damage and a shorter recovery time.

VASER® LipoSelection®: This method uses ultrasound to break up fat. Ultrasonic waves make the removal of fat easier and the results more precise.

It’s important to know that some people may not be good candidates for certain procedures. If you have questions concerning a particular procedure, I recommend talking to a qualified plastic surgeon to determine the best option for you.

There’s no question that quitting smoking is difficult. If you’ve achieved this goal, you definitely have something to smile about. However, your dark, discolored smoker’s gums may remain, keeping you from breaking into a full grin when you smile.

As a cosmetic dentist specializing in cosmetic gum surgery, I know it’s important to find the procedure – surgical or not – that’s just right for your needs. Personalizing a procedure can help create beautiful and natural looking results that you can enjoy for years to come.

I typically recommend gum bleaching for my patients with discolored gums, then I customize the procedure to their specific needs. Whether you’re worried about small dark spots on you gums or you have discolored gums that appear black, gum bleaching can help you achieve healthy looking gums and help you celebrate the joy you feel from quitting smoking.

Most patients only need one bleaching session, and the simple treatment is easily accommodated into the busiest of schedules.

I prefer this method to others because it doesn’t require multiple treatments, and people can enjoy long-lasting results for a of minimum of 20 years or longer and is permanent based on my research and follow up of the cases I have treated in the past.

As with all cosmetic procedures, the key to beautiful results is finding a qualified specialist who can provide the personalized attention you deserve.

When it comes to performing procedures such as breast augmentation in Marin, I believe that two heads are better than one. That’s why I love working with Dr. Furnas. Our work has become so well synchronized that we are able to perform plastic surgery procedures quickly and efficiently. This offers many benefits to our patients, such as:

• Improved recovery. Less time on the operating table means less recovery time for you. Because Dr. Furnas and I have worked together for so long, we are able to anticipate each other’s needs and perform surgery smoothly and easily. Most of our breast enhancement patients are able to return to work in just 2 to 4 days.
• Reduced risk of complications. By choosing experienced, skilled surgeons who work well together, you reduce the risk of surgical error. Dr. Furnas and I are both dedicated to ensuring that you receive the highest level of care, and are both available to you before and after the procedure.
• Multiple perspectives. Two sets of trained eyes are very beneficial during cosmetic surgery. It allows Dr. Furnas and me to scrutinize every aspect of your surgical plan in order to produce the best possible results.

As a San Jose face lift surgeon, I understand that a beautiful face does not always have to correlate with a youthful face. While smooth and wrinkle-free skin can contribute to a more vibrant appearance, the goal is not necessarily to make the patient look 30 years younger. I seek to create beautiful results by highlighting a patient’s features.

When a patient comes to me for a face lift consultation, there are specific properties of the face that I take into consideration:

• Symmetry: Whether you were born with an unbalanced facial appearance or incurred some form of injury during your life, symmetry helps to create a visually pleasing facial structure. Nose reshaping is one of the most popular procedures for restoring facial symmetry.
• Skin Quality: Aging, gravity and unhealthful habits can all affect the quality of a person’s skin. Smooth skin with minimal blemishes can help create a healthy appearance.
• Facial Contours: Over time, people can lose volume in their faces, which affects the strength of their facial contours. Fat transfers and nonsurgical fillers can help restore this volume, giving patients a healthy appearance.

It pays to fully understand these procedures and how they can be customized to meet your needs. If you have questions, schedule a consultation with a qualified surgeon to learn how you can enhance your natural beauty.

The new year is here, and soon the American Society of Plastic Surgeons will be releasing its 2011 plastic surgery statistics. Before it does, I thought it would be fun to make a few predictions based on trends I’m seeing at my Napa area plastic surgery practice. Here are my top 3 observations. Enjoy!

Plastic Surgery Trends for 2011

1. The number of breast augmentation procedures is increasing.

More and more women are undergoing breast augmentation. In fact, breast augmentation was the No. 1 cosmetic surgery procedure performed in 2010. I believe a greater number of women are choosing breast surgery for 2 reasons:

• Surgical techniques are more sophisticated, resulting in safer procedures, less downtime and fewer scars.
• Better breast implant options provide women with a variety of choices so they can achieve their ideal look.

Breast augmentation can now appear very natural and inconspicuous. Additionally, the safety of both silicone and saline breast implants remains confirmed by a number of studies. As women become more educated and informed about breast enhancement, I believe they will continue to choose this procedure to improve their body image and boost their confidence.

2. Less-invasive procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic are outnumbering plastic surgery procedures.

The number of people receiving nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures such as BOTOX, dermal fillers and cellulite reduction is rapidly increasing. My guess is that these treatments will continue to soar in popularity during the next few years. There are many reasons why minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures are appealing, they require little or no downtime, they are relatively affordable and they require less of a commitment than surgery since the results are usually more subtle and temporary.

3. More men are choosing plastic surgery.

Men are increasingly interested in plastic surgery near Marin. I believe this trend will increase during the next couple of years. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2010 statistics showed that men accounted for 9% of all cosmetic procedures performed – a 2% increase from 2009. I predict that this number will continue to rise for both surgical and nonsurgical treatments.

Although weight loss is a great achievement, a significant loss can leave you with loose, saggy skin. We offer a range of options for breast enhancement after weight loss at South Bay Plastic Surgeons, and we customize every procedure to create beautiful, personalized results for each patient.

For women in the Long Beach area, breast enlargement is not the only option for breast enhancement after weight loss. Although augmentation is an excellent solution, breast lift surgery can also help restore the shape of breasts after weight loss. Here’s what separates the two procedures:

• Breast augmentation uses either silicone or saline implants to replace volume and fill out the breasts. We help each patient find the perfect size and type of implant to create a beautiful yet natural looking silhouette. Other options, such as implant placement and type of incision can help individualize this procedure for women with a wide range of cosmetic needs.
• Breast lift (mastoplexy) is an excellent option for women who don’t need to add fullness but are more concerned with restoring a youthful shape. Surgery often involves tightening skin, reshaping breast tissue and repositioning the nipples. Each procedure is adjusted to meet the patient’s particular needs.

During consultations with our team at South Bay Plastic Surgeons, many women find that combining the two procedures is the best way to create the results they desire. Combining procedures after weight loss is a great way to achieve seamless results and celebrate your new body.