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Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery-SanFrancisco Bay Area|Marin County

Facelift Procedures up 6% in 2012

March 15th, 2013 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
2012 Annual Statistics

 

The latest statistics on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures for 2012 were released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Surprisingly breast augmentation is not the fastest growing procedure as it has been in the past. Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures show a 5% increase over 2011. This increase is fueled by the significant uptick in minimally-invasive procedures enjoyed by many San Francisco Bay Area patients such as; Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse.

Facelifts increased by 6%, and eyelid surgery was up 4%. There are several different theories as to why facial rejuvenation is seeing such an increase. Some believe that facelifts became less popular during the economic downturn, but people seem to be feeling better about the economy and are more optimistic about the future. Also, it is believed as the “baby boomer” generation is growing older many are opting for methods to maintain their youth. They are staying active longer and remaining in a competitive work place much longer than even a decade ago.

The top 5 procedures were:
•    Breast augmentation (286,000 procedures, down 7 percent)
•    Nose reshaping (243,000 procedures, no change)
•    Liposuction (202,000 procedures, down 1 percent)
•    Eyelid surgery (204,000 procedures, up 4 percent)
•    Facelift (126,000 procedures, up 6 percent)

Note that while breast augmentation remains the #1 procedure, it was down 7% from 2011. Interestingly for men, male breast reduction surgery increased by 5%, this is believed to be attributed to increased awareness and acceptance of the procedure.

Botox for Men is so Popular it Has its Own Nickname…”Bro-tox”

October 16th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

San Francisco Bay Area Baby boomers are now in their 50’s and 60’s. They are leading the way for the quest in keeping their youthful appearance. Besides an active lifestyle that includes exercise, and healthy eating, they are seeking cosmetic treatments that include both surgical and lesser invasive procedures. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) there were over 3.4 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures on patients 55 and older, and of those 1.3 million were Botox treatments.

Botox is a muscle relaxer that helps erase frown lines from the forehead, between the eyebrows and the corners of the eyes. From the time of injection, the results will show up in just a few days. The treatment isn’t permanent but can last for several months.

Each year more men are getting cosmetic procedures. According to ASPS, between the years of 2000 and 2011 there was an increase of 286% for men getting Botox.

HA Fillers are Great but They Have Their Limitations

August 30th, 2012 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Many San Francisco Bay Area patients have expressed confusion over the many types of facial fillers that are on the market. Two of the most popular are Restylane and Juvederm, both are made of a clear gel of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is not derived from animal sources, making it compatible with the human body and, therefore, it does not require a skin test.

HA is a naturally occurring sugar found in all living organisms. Before use as a cosmetic treatment, it has been used for several decades for medical treatment for joint pain, treating wounds and eye surgery.

Injecting the nasal labial fold

The benefit is immediate and results last about 9 months or more. To keep the desired result, continued injections will be necessary.

Fat injections from one’s own fat (usually taken from the tummy) have proven to be the best natural filler with a good percentage of it becoming permanent. Fat injections are especially good for filling in large amounts, such as during a facelift for patients who have hollow looking cheeks from aging or weight loss. For the patient who is not sure how they will like the result, using a temporary filler first will allow them to see what the result can be. If the patient does not like the look of the HA filler, hyaluronidase can be injected to the site and it will disolve the filler.

The best way to determine which dermal filler is best for you would be to schedule a consultation with Dr. Delgado who has been an expert injector for many years. Dr. Delgado will be able to discuss all the different aspects of each product and help you reach your facial rejuvenation goals.

The “Non-Surgical Nose Job”

September 15th, 2011 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

With the advance of dermal fillers, such as Radiesse, more options are becoming available to cosmetic patients such as the “non-surgical nose job”. Nose reshaping can be achieved with a filler instead of a scalpel. It is possible to correct broad nasal bridges, nasal bumps, nasal asymmetry or change the angle of the tip of the nose.

This is done as a quick office procedure, usually in 30 minutes or less with no down time, allowing the patient to return to work or social activities immediately. Radiesse has been known to last for 10 months to a year, and in some patients even longer. By not being permanent, the patient can see what the results are and then determine at a future date if they want rhinoplasty surgery. Also, it allows many patients to have a procedure at a fraction of the cost until a time that surgery would be affordable.

Radiesse is FDA approved; it has similar chemical characteristics as human bone. It is made of calcium hydroxyapatite particles and has lidocaine mixed with it to significantly reduce injection related pain. Radiesse acts as a scaffold under the skin, providing structure and stimulating your own natural collagen to grow.

Fat Injections, the Panacea of the Facelift?

September 27th, 2010 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MD

Fat Injections used in conjunction with the facelift…..

A new topic in cosmetic surgery is “Facial Volumization”. This procedure utilizes a patient’s own fat to add fullness. We have realized over the years that facial aging is a loss of volume and fat in the face. Therefore, to rejuvenate the face it is not just a matter of lifting skin due to gravitational change, but it also involves restoring the fullness of the face. This greatly enhances the youthfulness of the facial appearance and for some unknown reason it greatly enhances the texture and quality of the skin. Dr. Delgado has done this technique for over eight years and follows the Sydney Coleman technique of fat injection which entails a complex preparatory process of the fat.

For some patient’s, fat injections alone may be all that is needed for rejuvenation. But for most facelift patients, the addition of fat injections may give the optimal result. The fat helps fill in deep creases that can only be softened with a facelift, such as the nasal labial fold (crease from corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth). This crease can add years to a patients look, and while a facelift will make a great improvement, some people have such deep lines there that it is not possible to “pull” enough to make a dramatic change without the patient ending up with an unnatural look. Having a “pulled” look is unacceptable to Dr. Delgado, and he has found the “Facial Volumization Procedure” has been a great solution for many of his patients. You may wonder where the fat comes from, almost everyone has a donor site where the fat can be taken and never missed. This area would be unique to each patient, when you consult with Dr. Delgado he can show you what would be best for you, if you are a candidate for this procedure. A common area is the tummy. Many patients are thrilled with the reduction of a small amount of fat in the belly and some opt to have even more than needed removed.