Working on the Blepharoplasty site excited Have GREAT…

Working on the Blepharoplasty site, excited! Have GREAT intra-op photos!

“My Breast Implants Are Too Small: How Long To Wait For Redo?”

“I had a BA silicone 450 R went to 500 /500 went to 550 L under, on March 21, I want a redo to go bigger by 100 cc’s , how long should I wait to get a redo, I was thinking maybe July or wait til Nov of this year.”

This is probably one of the most common complaints after Breast Augmentation not related to a complication.  Many patients feel that their Breast Implants are too small right after their surgery.  Personally, I have never felt this way (even after two different breast augmentations with 510 cc saline breast implants) because I had gone rather large and admittedly regretted choosing such a large size (both times!).   Granted, I liked it at first.  When you’re just lying around healing, having noticeable results is like Christmas!  But when you get back to your daily life, finding bras that fit (32F!) and easing back into your activities can be a little “different” with that much mass on your chest.  So be careful what you wish for.   And remember, the larger you go the more stress is applied to your tissues and the faster you will sag without sufficient support (although we all sag eventually).

Now that you’re heard my thoughts from personal experience, I thought I’d share the comments of 4 of our Expert Breast Augmentation Surgeons…

Preparing For Your Tummy Tuck Surgery

Although surgery preparation in the weeks before your tummy tuck surgery may seem overwhelming, if you plan your steps and create lists for supplies and tasks, this will significantly lower your stress levels.  Doing so helps you focus on relaxing and healing, not worrying, which can only enhance your recovery.  Plus, you are sure not to forget anything!  The last thing you need on your surgery day is having to stop at the pharmacy and wait in the car while your caretaker rushes around searching for a forgotten item.  These tips, along with your own surgeon’s instructions, should definitely help you avoid that inconvenience.

My Personal Experience With Hair Extensions (9 Methods!)

Hair Extensions:  Not For Extended Periods

Before: Damage After Hairlocs Removal.  After: Fusion: Hate It And It Looks Awful, Too.

I once read a comment by some random celebrity (I can’t remember who, now) “The fastest way to having short hair, sans cutting it off, is to get hair extensions.”  Truer words were never spoken.  I have documented my experience with hair extensions over a 5 year period with 9 different systems so that you can better avoid the problems that I had.  I no longer have extensions but I have had enough experience with many methods to have an informed opinion about it.  I am not trying to dissuade anyone from getting them, I just want you to know what you are getting into with each method and the reality of its effects on your natural hair.  Hair extensions are not for everyone.

I sustained considerable hair damage, a huge dent in my pocket book but walked away with a ton of personal experience.

Photos and more: http://yestheyrefake.net/hair_extensions.htm

I Have “Pine Mouth” (Completely Off Topic) But It Is Driving Me Crazy!

Something you may not know about me, but I am a bit of a foodie.  Gourmet cooking is a hobby and I prepare gourmet meals every day.  Whether it is Porkchops with caramelized onions and sweet potato gravy or Chicken Involtini stuffed with feta, golden raisins, proscuitto and collard greens.  Oh yeah and Pine Nuts.  As is customary, I snacked on a few while cooking.  Yum.  Wait. Not so yum.  These just aren’t as good as I remembered.  But, whatever, this is what we’re having for dinner.  And it was fabulous when we ate it.   However!

Permanent Make-up (Micropigmentation): My Not-So-Great Experience

Don’t you love the ads, “Wake up looking as though your make-up was freshly applied” or “never put make up on again”?  Whatever.  Obviously they weren’t referring to my face in the mornings.  I assure you, even with permanent makeup, I don’t look like Jane Diva when I crack my eyes open for the first time each day.

Restylane Under Eye & Nasolabial Injections

I first sought treatment for under eye hollows with Sculptra® in November of 2004 and again for my second treatment and also to nasolabials in February of 2005.   It lasted for about 18 months and since I had developed a nodule from the Sculptra®, I decided to try a product which I felt had less possible complications, Restylane. 

So August 30, 2006 I had my first Restylane® under eye injections with Jonathan Hoenig, M.D. in Beverly Hills, California.  Incidentally the above photo was from a treatment in September of 2009. I get Restylane injected under my eyes about once a year.
 
I have also been treated with 5FU injections (starting 8/2006) to correct the scar tissue between my left cheek and under eye from the fat grafting procedure I had in 2004.  Granted, I had the demarcation prior to any facial procedures, but the fat grafting seemed to accentuate it. 

Read more: http://yestheyrefake.net/restylane_undereye.htm

Sculptra For Facial Augmentation: The Liquid Face Lift

The Scultpra page has been updated with more information and personal treatment photos.  I first had Sculptra in late 2004 and again in early 2005 as part of a clinical study and used it for cosmetic applications for the cheeks, undereyes and nasolabials.

What Is Sculptra?
Sculptra is poly-l-lactic acid, a cross-linked lactic acid product which is injected into the dermis to trigger collagen production.  Sculptra is a semi-permanent product designed to create volume and thicken the skin via natural collagen formation and lasts about 18 months.

Sculptra Aesthetic® is FDA approved for cosmetic applications for the nasolabial folds and for other deep dermal wrinkles.  It is also used for cheek volume and along the jaw for augmentation.  It should not be used in the lips, and in thin-skinned areas like under the eyes (although I had gotten it there during clinicals).

Sculptra was originally approved only for patients with lipoatrophy, which is the loss of facial fat/volume from medications and disorders such as those for HIV.  Lipoatrophy is also known as facial wasting and can cause a gaunt, unhealthy look.  However, it was used off-label cosmetically.  Now that Sculptra Aesthetic® is FDA approved for cosmetic applications, patients can readily receive injections from their plastic surgeon or dermatologist.

Read more on how Sculptra Liquid Face Lift can restore lost volume or add volume where you’ve never had it!  http://www.yestheyrefake.net/sculptra.htm

Non-invasive Treatment Videos: Radiesse, Restylane & Botox

I re-edited the Radiesse, Restylane & Botox video into three parts (in the order of which I received the injections) and added some more footage.  Now you guys don’t have to watch the whole video to just watch one procedure you are interested in:

• Radiesse For Cheek Augmentation – Part 1 of 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbh6XwyOuk
• Restylane Injections To The Undereyes – Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lBJNlft5Xc
• Botox Injections – Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TGh8EmVElc

I am working on surgery videos now so those should be up soon



Radiesse For Facial Augmentation

I love full, high cheeks.  I naturally have prominent cheeks, but I am always in the mood for more.  I had 1.3 cc of Radiesse to both cheeks on January 2010 by Dr. Jonathan Hoeing in Beverly Hills, California.  I loved the result and there was no palpable lumping at all.  I had only slight swelling, swelling that I appreciated and was sad to see dissipate.  As I said,  really love big cheeks and full lips, so this area is one of those where my doctor knows best.  I get a case of cheek or lip greed every now and then, and my doctor keeps me in check.

Unfortunately, my first Radiesse experience wasn’t this successful.  I first had Radiesse® injected in 2004, although back then it was known as Radiance FN® and it was into my lips.  I had heard so much about the product and felt at the time that it would be a good option.  I was told that it should last about 2 years and that in the long run, I would save money that I would normally spend on temporary fillers every 4 months.  The distributor had even comped the product (it was for a documentary on Discovery) so I was excited all over the board.  Well, unfortunately I had blanching and palpable lumping (both visual and with manual manipulation) which necessitated removal so needless to say I wasn’t too sold on the product at first.  These were the early days so some of us had to take the fall for the learning curve.  Radiesse is no longer recommended for lips. To read more on this, see: Radiesse Removal. 

But I think Radiesse is a great product for dermal facial augmentation and volume restoration!

Learn more about how Radiesse can help you restore lost volume or create augmentation where you never had it before…

• Radiesse For Facial Augmentation
• What Is Radiesse?
• Indications For Radiesse
• Am I A Candidate For Radiesse?
• Your Consultation Appointment
• How Radiesse Is Injected
• Recovery
• Risks & Complications of Radiesse
• How Much Does Radiesse Cost?
• The Least You Need To Know
• References

http://yestheyrefake.net/radiesse.htm