What Is a QuickLift™?

For many patients in La Jolla, a facelift is needed to reduce tell-tale signs of aging such as loose skin and wrinkles on the lower face and jaw line. However, those who come to our offices for a consultation may be unaware that there is a mini facelift technique which has minimal downtime while still providing lasting results: the QuickLift™ Facelift.

HOW QUICKLIFT™ Is DIFFERENT

There are other so-called mini-facelifts out there, yet the QuickLift™ is the only one which adjusts the underlying face musculature for long-term results. Other mini-lifts only tighten the surface skin. Although this can provide short-term improvement for signs of aging, unless the supporting muscles underneath are tightened as well, the facelift will not have optimum results.

The QuickLift™ is performed as an outpatient procedure and takes just an hour or two. A small incision is made near each ear to keep any resultant scarring as inconspicuous as possible, while still providing sufficient access to facial muscle layers. Connective tissue and underlying musculature are tightened using a special suturing technique, lifting the upper neck and bringing new definition to the jaw line. Any excess skin is removed, and miniscule sutures are made under magnification to close the incision.

For those considering cosmetic surgery in La Jolla, a facelift doesn’t have to mean an extensive procedure and a long recovery. Instead, consider the QuickLift™ facelift for faster healing and great results.

Why Choose VASER® Liposuction?

For many of our patients in San Diego, liposuction is the best way to finally eliminate fat deposits which have been resistant to diet and exercise. New advances in liposuction technology are making this procedure safer and more effective than ever through the use of ultrasound waves.

THE DIFFERENCE
In traditional liposuction, liquid is injected through the skin to help break up the fat deposits, then both liquid and fat are removed together from the body. While this procedure still contours the body, the necessary vigorous motion of the surgical tool, the cannula, can cause swelling, bruising and potentially cause damage to nearby blood vessels. Not surprisingly, this tissue damage results in more discomfort following traditional liposuction.

VASER liposuction, on the other hand, uses directed sound waves to liquefy targeted fat deposits. This process causes less trauma to the surrounding blood vessels and tissues. Because it causes less harm to surrounding tissue, VASER can be used in areas which were previously challenging for effective liposuction, such as the lower back or other areas where fat is intermixed with fibrous muscle tissue. Also, since the procedure is less invasive, the healing time is faster and has minimal pain or bruising.

Regardless of the technology offered at our practice in San Diego, liposuction results, like every other cosmetic procedure, ultimately depend on the skill of the surgeon involved. Although VASER has many clear benefits, the best type of lipo is whichever method is performed by the hands of an experienced surgeon.

Three Benefits of an Onsite Surgical Center

According to our patients, there aren’t many plastic surgeons in San Diego who offer the same level of convenience as our onsite surgical center at Alexander Cosmetic Surgery.

There are three main benefits of an onsite surgical center:

• The same personnel guide you through from consultation to post-op recovery. My clinical staff will already be familiar with your case and special needs from your consultation and initial appointment, so there won’t be any surprises. 
• Much less physical strain and discomfort moving from surgery to recovery and then back home. You won’t have to go to a strange location on surgery day; most of our surgeries take place right here in familiar surroundings. We’ve also built our postoperative waiting room adjacent to the parking garage, so you won’t have a long walk to the car. 
• Extremely private entrance and exit for maximum discretion. Again, with the entrance and exit to the post-op waiting room right in the underground parking garage, you can rest easy knowing that you won’t be seen by other waiting patients in the lobby following your surgery.

Also, our surgical center has undergone the intensive review process required by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) in order to attain accreditation. This assures that our patients have access to any level of anesthesia under the safest possible conditions. Thanks in part to our fully equipped, accredited and on-site surgery center, the plastic surgeons at our San Diego office can provide the latest in high quality cosmetic care.

Combining Breast Augmentation and Lift

Often, women know they are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts, and think augmentation may be the only solution. Although adding volume can definitely make an impact in cup size, a breast lift may be required to really get that youthful look back.

There are several factors which can affect breast size and placement over time:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Hormonal changes
• Breast problems, such as infection or mastectomy
• Age and gravity

By combining a breast lift with breast augmentation, San Diego women can have a younger, sexier appearance than through either procedure by itself.

WHAT TO EXPECT

There are a few different techniques I can use to accomplish this which vary from patient to patient, depending on how much correction is needed. Typically during a combined breast lift/augmentation procedure, an incision will be made following the darker pigmentation of the areola, and then extended down to the natural breast crease. Implants will be placed, and the breast will be lifted and shaped into a younger, fuller silhouette. Scarring is minimal in most cases, although different techniques will affect the size and shape of the incisions. 

In the end, by combining both procedures, the result will be fuller, higher breasts with a more youthful placement and larger volume.

3 Steps to a Successful Tummy Tuck

Achieving the desired results from a tummy tuck takes a skilled and experienced doctor who has extensive plastic surgery training. There are several factors that contribute to the success of an abdominoplasty, such as whether the patient seeks cosmetic improvement above or below the belly button, how loose the skin is, and whether or not a patient has pre-existing scars or stretch marks. When performed at Alexander Cosmetic Surgery in San Diego, a tummy tuck isn’t just a procedure – it is a skillful blend of science and art that is accomplished in three basic steps.

STEP 1: THE INCISION
After the patient has received anesthesia and the abdomen has been marked properly, an incision will be made. The length and shape of this incision depends on the degree of cosmetic correction the patient requires. Incisions may be straight or curved, and whenever possible are positioned so that the resultant scars can be hidden by underwear or a swimsuit bottom.

STEP 2: MUSCLE REPAIR AND TIGHTENING
After the skin is loosened properly from the abdomen, the abdominal muscles are re-tightened with sutures. At this time, residual fat tissue in the abdominal area is also excised or removed through the use of liposuction.

STEP 3: RE-ATTACHING THE BELLY BUTTON AND CLOSING THE INCISIONS
Once the abdominal wall has been tightened and excess skin removed, the belly button is sutured into place to look as natural as possible. Incisions are then closed with dissolvable sutures. The abdominal area is dressed and placed in an elastic girdle for protection and to assist with healing.

The 5 Steps of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Choosing any cosmetic surgery procedure can be a major life changing decision. Breast augmentation in particular can dramatically change a woman’s self image, which is why education about the procedure is so important beforehand. In my experience, many women want to know exactly what will happen the day of their breast augmentation in San Diego. Here are the basic steps that occur during surgery.

STEP 1: MARKING
Aside from the consultation, one of the most important parts of the breast augmentation procedure is the marking. While the patient sits up straight, the doctor will take careful measurements and make markings on each breast. These markings will determine the symmetry and shape of the breasts after surgery, and must be done with the utmost precision.

STEP 2: CREATING THE POCKET
After the patient is sedated, an incision is made on the breast, typically in the breast fold or around the areola. Through this incision, the surgeon creates a space, known as a pocket, where the breast implant will reside. The pocket is formed either below or above the pectoralis muscle, depending on the patient’s preferred placement location.

STEP 3: PLACING THE IMPLANT
Once the pocket is formed, the selected silicone gel or saline implant is placed in the pocket. Doctors may sit the patient up to make sure both breasts are symmetrical, and typically will make minor adjustments to the fit of the implant as needed.

STEP 4: RESHAPING THE BREASTS
As part of most breast enlargement procedures, underlying breast tissue is reshaped slightly to enhance breast contour and firmness. For a more youthful appearance, the nipple and areola may be repositioned.

STEP 5: CLOSING THE INCISIONS
After the breast implants are in place, incisions are sewn shut and bandaged. The patient is then moved to a recovery area to recover from the procedure and the effects of anesthesia.

Plastic Surgery More Popular for Men

About 9 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States are performed for men. That comes out to about 800,000 procedures performed last year alone, and this number has been rising in recent years. Cosmetic surgery is becoming a popular choice for men who want to feel young and look their best.

DISCOVERING THE KEY TO YOUTH
Since 1997, the field of cosmetic surgery has seen a 121 percent increase in the number of men receiving treatment. Not long ago, men were hesitant to have a cosmetic procedure because they feared that it would look unnatural or noticeable. But times change advanced technologies and procedures, not to mention changing social mores, have opened up the eyes and minds of men who have a thing or two they’d like to change about themselves.

At our practice in La Jolla, plastic surgery can take years off of a man’s features while making the change look very natural. New, advanced facial contouring procedures add subtle refinements to the features to balance them out, while body contouring procedures help men get rid of those annoying problem areas that just won’t go away, like excess stomach flab or love handles.

A BETTER BODY, TOO
Looking younger isn’t all that men desire, either. The most popular procedure for men this past year was liposuction. More than 41,000 liposuction procedures were performed for men in 2011. Just as with women, diet and exercise don’t always get rid of those stubborn areas of unwanted fat. There is only so much a healthy life style can do for a person, regardless of gender.

Surgical or Nonsurgical Facelift?

If you’re considering getting a facelift in the San Diego area, you may be debating between surgical or nonsurgical options. They are definitely very different procedures, so it’s important to weigh your choices carefully before proceeding.

SURGICAL FACELIFTS
A surgical facelift, sometimes called a traditional facelift, is just what it sounds like. Although techniques have modernized quite a bit over the past several years, a surgical facelift requires incisions to be made, and is performed under anesthesia. Surgical facelifts are best for patients:

• Who are older
• Who want dramatic results which still look natural
• Who are willing to trade off a more involved procedure in exchange for longer-lasting results

A traditional facelift actually lifts the skin of the cheeks and chin to remove sagging and wrinkles. Oftentimes, a neck lift is performed at the same time for even more comprehensive results.

NONSURGICAL FACELIFTS
A nonsurgical facelift can be one of several procedures. Examples include fillers, which are used to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as enhance contours of lips and chin. Laser resurfacing, which helps erase visible sun damage and age spots or even skin tone, is another example of a nonsurgical procedure which can be performed to improve your appearance. Nonsurgical facelifts are ideal for patients:

• Who are just seeing the first visible signs of aging
• Who want their appearance to look “refreshed,” not “done”
• Whose schedules are too hectic for more involved procedures

Results are shorter-term than traditional face lifts, but procedure and recovery time are also shorter, with many non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques being performed in an hour or less.

Which Is Right for Me?
A consultation at our practice can help you decide which kind of facelift will be the best match for your cosmetic concerns and long-term goals.