does ulthera really work?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

We use ulthera in my practice and have done so for about 18 months. Our patient satisfaction is high but my selection criteria is pretty strict. You can’t ask it to replace a facelift and your expectations need to be realistic. Please let me know if you have any questions.

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let’s talk the same language about recovery

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

see this link regarding work done by plastic surgeons to help you the patient try to better understand more about results and downtime. Please let me know if you have any questions. http://aestheticsociety.cmail3.com/t/r/l/iltkuld/cuyuyyddl/r/

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tumescent lipo vs lipo? Is there a difference?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

All liposuction techniques utilize a wetting solution that helps magnify the treated area, decrease blood loss, and in some cases provide a local anesthetic. “tumescent” is used by many to describe the above. In the scientific literature, “tumescent liposuction” is a term used by doctors who perform lipo in their offices and inject roughly 3 times as much fluid in as they remove. Most plastic surgeons use a “superwet” technique which infiltrates approximately equal amounts as one removes.

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Will twilight anesthesia be OK for a 4+ hour facelift, along with upper and lower eyelid surgery?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

Janet, thank you for your excellent question. The type of anesthesia performed is usually determined by both your plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist they work with. In many cases, the procedure you described could be done under twilight. In our institution our anesthesiologist prefers general anesthesia for most of what we do. The most important thing is that you are cared for an ABMS board certified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist in an accredited facility.

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how much can you do in one cosmetic surgery?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

MC, this is a great question. While you raise many concerns that can be addressed with plastic surgery, the most important question you raise is about patient safety. So how do we determine what is a safe number of procedures to combine in one operation? The short answer is it varies completely on the patient and the types of procedures done. Obviously the stress that a facelift puts on the body is totally different than that of a tummy tuck. We also try to limit how much time you are under anesthesia in one sitting. In my hands, your requests would require a minimum of 2 but likely 3 procedures. It would be very important for you to discuss this with your board certified plastic surgeon, ASAPS member. Every patient is different, so a procedure(s) that is tailored to your needs would be determined. Thanks so much for raising important safety issues.

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loose skin, fat: Best Treatment options?

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

Photographs are always difficult to interpret. When you are examined the extent of excess skin you have and its quality (elasticity) can be assessed. One can also determine how much fat you have and whether you have any weakness (diastasis) of your abdominal wall. Based on your description and pictures, it does not appear that you have too much excessive skin but perhaps some in the lower abdomen. I don’t believe any device can predictably reverse or improve loose skin. The operation that is best for you would have to be determined in person during your consultation by a board certified plastic surgeon

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considering brow lift with facelift?

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

Your physician should have done a detailed facial analysis of you at your consultation. It is true that some of us have lost volume in this region or have seen a descent in the outside aspect of the brow over time. Some important things to remember/consider:

1. Many of us do less brow lifts these days as researchers have found that this deformity in many is due to loss of volume in this area and not necessarily descent of the brow itself (lambros). I would agree with this. It is amazing how much better many of our patients look with a small amount of filler or fat in this area

2. If not done properly, brow lifts can distort our appearance and make us look unnatural.

It is important to seek a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who can review this with you

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nonsurgical alternatives

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

There are three general areas that we focus on when evaluating a patient for surgical or nonsurgical rejuvenation:

1. surface changes – these include things such as pigmentation and lines from exposure to the elements

2. volume losses – as we age we lose volume in our face in several areas that give us a more aged appearance

3. skin laxity – with volume loss and the aging process including exposure our skin may sag

There are no nonsurgical replacements for facelifting results but there are some things you can consider:

1. Use sunblock every day regardless of the time of year.

2. Consider starting on a physician directed skin care program ( this alone will help most signficantly)

3. Some may benefit from enhanced skin rejuvenation with peeling agents or lasers.

4. Volume loss of the face is more than filling lines. It is replacing fat loss with either fat from another part of your body or using injectable products available in a MD office

5. Be very cautious about technology promoting “skin tightening”. There are no replacements for surgery. Your physician must be candid with you and help set realistic expectations about what these technologies can do.

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postop lipo, looking worse than preop

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

Don’t panic. It is very common to experience a good deal of swelling following liposuction of any type. Remember liposuction is not an instant gratification procedure and often may take 3-6 months to achieve your end result. Follow your doctors instructions about resuming activity, eating right and possibly undergoing lymphatic massage / ultrasound. It may help you.

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when is the right time for a facelift

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Dr. Kenkel

While we usually don’t make recommendations based on chronological age, being in your late 20s, you defintely don’t need a face lift. As you begin to see some changes in your laugh lines and perhaps along your jawline, there are a few things you can consider. One of the first things to happen to our face, typically in the later 30s and early 40s is volume loss. This can lead to a tired look and in some cases an aged appearance. If that is the case, then you can consider replacing that volume with fillers. Early skin laxity in patients with good skin may benefit from a skin tightening procedure. Beware, that there are a lot of promises out there regarding skin tightening procedures, so approach with caution

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