Cosmetic Health News

Would you like to refresh the appearance of your eyelids? Blepharoplasty is the answer, because it firms the eye area and gives it a more youthful appearance. In addition to traditional blepharoplasty in which a scalpel is used to perform the operation, laser blepharoplasty is now and option. But is there any benefit of laser blepharoplasty over traditional eyelid surgery.

Understanding Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty also known as an eyelid lift is a surgical procedure that is done to improve the appearance of the eyelids. It gets rid of excess skin and fat along the eyelids. Blepharoplasty can be done to correct droopy upper eyelids that can often interfere with vision, as well as bags under the eyes and nearby wrinkles.

Upper blepharoplasty reduces the appearance of saggy eyelids by removing or repositioning excess skin, fatty deposits, and muscle above the eyes. The incisions for surgery are made along the natural crease of the eyelids, so post-surgical scars are usually indiscernible.

Lower blepharoplasty gets rid of puffiness and bags beneath the eyes by removing or repositioning fat pads. Wrinkles below the eyes can also be reduced by taking away some of the excess skin. The incision for lower eyelid surgery is usually made on the inside of the lower lid.

Recovery

Recovery after blepharoplasty can take up to 6 weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure. However, most of the swelling should be down within 2-3 weeks.

Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done at the same time or separately.

How laser blepharoplasty works

A laser eyelid lift is typically done using a CO2 laser to make the incisions, and therefore replaces the scalpel blade used in traditional blepharoplasty. The CO2 laser is considered ideally suited for blepharoplasty because it is gentle on the skin.

Laser blepharoplasty is done on an outpatient basis at under local anesthesia. Patients may experience a little discomfort during laser blepharoplasty, but the procedure is not painful. Surgery can take 1½-2 hours, depending on whether one or both eyelids are being treated.

Normal activities can be resumed within 2-4 days of surgery.

What are the benefits of laser blepharoplasty vs traditional blepharoplasty?

en it comes to making the incisions for eyelid surgery, it can be done using a laser or a scalpel. Once the incisions have been made, the steps used to carry out laser and traditional blepharoplasty are the same. The incisions are closed with sutures when the procedure is complete.

Benefits of laser eyelid lift

• Reduces bleeding: There is less bleeding during laser blepharoplasty because the laser vaporizes the tissue, and immediately seals the blood vessels. As a result, blood does not get a chance to pool in the tissue, so the surgeon has a much better view of the treatment area, and this ensures very precise tissue removal.
• Less bruising: The reduction in bleeding also helps to minimize bruising. It is very convenient when there is less bruising with eyelid surgery, because it won’t be obvious to anyone looking on that you’ve had work done.
• Reduced risk of scarring: There is usually minimal scarring with laser blepharoplasty.
• Faster recovery: Recovery after laser blepharoplasty is usually faster as there is less trauma to the tissue during surgery and minimal bleeding. Consequently, there is a smaller amount of post-operative swelling and discomfort.

Despite the benefits of laser blepharoplasty the skill and experience of the surgeon is more important in ensuring that patients get optimal results from an eyelid lift.

Are you a good candidate for laser blepharoplasty?

If you have droopy upper eyelids or bags below the eyes you would probably be a good candidate for eyelid surgery. Candidates for surgery should also be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about surgery.

While laser blepharoplasty and traditional blepharoplasty can deliver equally beautiful results, laser blepharoplasty is preferred by some surgeons, because in many cases it removes the soft tissue more efficiently.

If you are in the Guilford or New Haven, CT areas, contact The Langdon Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, for more information on laser blepharoplasty and traditional blepharoplasty.

Call (203) 408-1396 today to schedule a consultation.

Do you have excess fat that simply won’t go away? UltraShape Power is a non-invasive fat reducing procedure that can melt away that fat for you. When it comes to fat reduction, liposuction is usually the obvious choice, but it does come with some downsides, which is why non-invasive options like UltraShape Power have become so popular. But should you get UltraShape Power instead of liposuction.

What is UltraShape Power?

UltraShape Power is a non-invasive body contouring treatment that employs focused, pulsed ultrasound energy to destroy stubborn fat cells. The device selectively targets the subcutaneous fat below the surface of the skin, so it does not harm any of the nearby blood vessels, nerves, or connective tissues.

The abdomen is one area where unwanted fat seems to linger the most, and UltraShape Power is very effective for reducing abdominal fat. However, it is a versatile device that can be adjusted to treat various parts of the body including thighs, arms, and back.

How UltraShape Power works

The transducer head is placed on the target area and the device emits pulsed ultrasound. The acoustic waves then take aim at the fat deposits below the surface of the skin, and the changes in pressure rupture the membrane of the fat cells. Only the fatty deposits are affected by UltraShape Power, because the ultrasound only resonates with the fat cells. The fat cells that are treated are later expelled by the body.

UltraShape Power is a safe, comfortable, virtually painless treatment, with no adverse side-effects. There is no downtime after UltraShape, so it’s possible to have the procedure done and return to your normal activities right away.

Treatment takes between 20-40 minutes, depending on the area being treated.

It typically requires a course of 3 treatments to achieve the desired results. However, this may vary depending on the amount of fat being removed. Sessions are spaced about 2 weeks apart. There will be some improvement within the first few days of treatment, but optimal results won’t be seen until the recommended number of treatments are complete.

In order to ensure the best results, UltraShape Power should be included as part of an overall healthy lifestyle of improved diet and regular exercise.

Should you get UltraShape Power instead of Liposuction?

UltraShape Power may be a good option for you if:

You only need to reduce a few areas of stubborn fat. Although you lose some fat with UltraShape, it is not a weight loss solution. UltraShape Power is designed to reduce pockets of fat that are difficult to remove with diet and exercise. The ideal candidate for UltraShape Power is someone with a BMI of 30 or less. Doctors also advise that you need to have at least an inch of pinchable fat in the targeted area to qualify for treatment.

In clinical trials, participants lost about 3-5 centimeters after treatment with UltraShape Power.

You don’t want any downtime after treatment. UltraShape Power only targets the fatty tissue, which is why there is no undesirable damage to nearby tissue structures. Therefore, there is no downtime after treatment. This makes UltraShape Power ideal for men and women that are not able to take time off work to undergo a surgical procedure. Liposuction is more invasive, so there is generally some swelling, bruising, and soreness, for several days after treatment, so patients have to restrict normal activities.

You prefer non-surgical body contouring. UltraShape Power is a completely non-surgical treatment, so there are none of the complications and risks associated with liposuction surgery. For example, liposuction can occasionally result in bumpy or uneven fat removal results that look distorted.

UltraShape Power is an excellent non-surgical fat removal method for patients that are near their ideal weight, but it is not a replacement for liposuction. Consequently, individuals that have large areas of fat to remove will have to undergo surgical liposuction in order to get the best results.

Are you interested in UltraShape Power body contouring treatment?

If you are in the Long Beach CA area, contact Laser Skin Care Center Dermatology Associates for more information.

Call (562) 376-2930 today to set up a consultation.

Would you like to repair the damage to your skin and restore its youthful radiance? Laser skin resurfacing may be the answer for you. Although it’s possible to have laser skin resurfacing done any time of the year, timing does make a difference. So when is the best time for laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing refers to the use of laser technology to remove unwanted skin cells and correct cosmetic flaws. It is a versatile treatment that can address a variety of skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, skin laxity, and scars.

How laser skin resurfacing works

The laser energy removes the outer layer of the skin to improve surface imperfections, and also heats the deeper dermal layer. This action stimulates the production of collagen, and as new collagen fibers emerge the skin becomes smoother and tighter than before.

When is the best time for laser skin resurfacing?

Skin resurfacing can be performed all year round, but doctors recommend having the treatment done during the fall and winter months when it’s cooler. The skin is usually very sensitive to the sun after laser skin resurfacing, and since the daylight hours are fewer during fall and winter there is minimum sun exposure, and patients also spend more time indoors.

However, regardless of the time of year laser skin resurfacing is done, it’s always necessary to wear sunscreen afterwards, especially for the first few weeks. This is particularly important for people in areas that have strong sun throughout the year.

Are you interested in laser skin resurfacing? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the Chicago, IL area Skin Care Center is our featured practice.

You can reach them at www.skincarectr.com, or by calling 773-296-3636 for the Chicago office, 847-901-0252 for Glenview, and 847-234-6121 for the Lake Forest location.