Recent economic events, specifically the banking crash related to sub-prime lending, the loss of retirement savings and the California specific 12% unemployment rate with 25% reduction from full the part time employment in the existing work force has led to a rethink in the way that cosmetic surgery should be performed.

Without a question the surgical facility and anesthesia fees have increased by over 20% in the last 3 years despite the economic downturn. Yet, fellow baby boomers want surgery in our look – good – feel – good generation. So in office self – pay procedures are staging a come back.

The question is, can an in office face lift be performed safely and comfortably under local anesthesia and without intravenous anesthesia? And the answer is absolutely yes! Why is this, simply stated, a facelift is a skin operation, in which the thin underlying facial musculature support and facial fat a made readily asensate during the procedure using a dilute subcutaneous anesthetic solution, called tumescent solution. The same anesthesia technique has been previously championed for in office liposuction and laser varicose veinous vein ablation.

In my office, the patients are operated on in the semi – sitting position, looking out the window: across the San Francisco Bay, listening to their favorite music and we make conversation, mean while the face is being operated on, the neck is defatted, the neck muscles corseted, the cheeks suspended, the facial muscle tightened and the excess skin removed through a small ‘S’ shaped, so – called ‘short scar technique’. What is remarkable, is how much happier patients feel and how well they look on their first post operative visit, 2 days after surgery, as compared to patients who have had 4 to 5 hours of general anesthesia. Not to mention, the cost for general anesthesia in a surgical facility more than doubled the overall cost for surgery.

I believe the modern and safe in office face lift supports the concept of “financial necessity is the mother of safe plastic surgical re – invention”.

Advantages of Laser Hair Removal

One of the biggest benefits of laser hair removal is in its predictability. Approximately 90 percent of patients experience permanent hair loss in five or less sessions. The procedure is also quick. It takes but a fraction of a second for each laser pulse, while treating multiple hairs at the same time. For example, small areas, such as the upper lip, can be treated in under a minute. Lastly, lasers can pinpoint specific dark, course hairs, resulting in fine precision; the surrounding skin area is left undamaged.

Side Effects and Risks

After your Brentwood laser hair removal treatment, the treated area may feel and look like it has been sunburned, which will last about one to two days. You may experience temporary redness or swelling. During the next 30 days, the treated hair will fall out. Wearing sunscreen on the treated area for 30 days post-treatment will prevent temporary skin color changes. Blisters, changes in skin color, or permanent scaring are rare. Overall, most people who opt for laser hair removal in the San Francisco area find that the benefits and convenience of the procedure far outweighs any temporary irritation that follows the procedure.

What to Do Before the Procedure

You will need to refrain from waxing, plucking, or electrolysis for six weeks prior to your treatment. Waxing and plucking temporarily removes the root of the hair, which will reduce the successfulness of the laser. Because sun exposure reduces the effectiveness of laser hair removal, you should also avoid the sun for six weeks before and after your treatment. Sun exposure can also increase complications after treatment.

Male breast reduction surgery takes about one and one half to two hours. It is generally performed under general anesthetic, though minimal amounts of tissue may be removed under a local anesthetic or sedation. An incision is typically made on the upper edge of the areola. Large amounts of excess skin may require a larger circular incision around the areola. Once the incision is created, your surgeon will then remove excess skin, fat, and tissue, and will sculpt the chest into a more masculine representation. Significant volumes of fat may be removed via liposuction. The incision is then closed.

If you are a male with gynecomastia, then you may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery as long as you are over the age of 18, are healthy and feel self-conscious about your condition. If you find yourself hiding behind baggy shirts and won’t go topless in public, then you should consider this procedure.

Being overweight can give the appearance of larger breasts because of the fat deposits. If you’re overweight, you should try to lose weight to see if that corrects the problem, before resorting to surgery. Alcohol and drug use can also cause a man’s breast to enlarge. Consider living a healthier lifestyle first to see if that reduces the size of your breasts first, before surgery.

Always carefully consider your options before opting for surgery. There are always risks associated with surgery; carefully discuss these with your surgeon in San Leandro, Walnut Creek or Brentwood before commencing the surgery.

The surgery usually lasts about an hour, and can be performed on an outpatient basis at a Walnut Creek area surgical center. Some doctors prefer to use general anesthesia, while others prefer local anesthesia. The doctor will first trace the lines of the abdomen with pen to create a guide. Then, several small incisions are made around the navel. Liposuction procedures are used to remove excess fat along the lines of the muscles in the abdomen to increase definition. There may or may not be sutures on the incision sites.

As with any surgery, there are risks to abdominal sculpting. Risks include infection, scarring, bleeding, swelling and nerve damage. If the fat is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of uneven results, but finding a highly qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon limits these risks.

Recovery does take some time. You will be instructed to wear special compression garments for several weeks. These control swelling, and help shape your belly. During recovery, you will experience some mild pain, swelling and bruising. Most people are able to go back to work about a week after surgery. For the first week or two, take it easy. Avoid lifting and any other strenuous activity.

1. Saline or Silicone: Which is the Best Option?

Breast implant patients can choose between either saline or silicone implants for their cosmetic surgery. Silicone had a 10 year ban, but is now approved by the FDA. This breast implant still has its drawbacks though, including the fact that many surgeons lack experience using this type in augmentation surgery due to the ban. Even though the silicone implants do look better than saline implants, saline breast implants have the major advantage of being safer as the body will naturally absorb the saline solution if ruptured.

2. Everyone has a Different Shape and Size

Breast implants come in a variety of sizes, shapes and volumes. From round and contoured shapes to textured and smooth breast implants, your plastic surgeon can discuss the different sized and shaped breast implants he can use for your cosmetic surgery and help you decide what’s best for you.

3. Silicone Gets FDA Approval

Research over a 10 year period has shown that silicone is safe to use in breast implant surgery. In 2006, the FDA lifted the ban on silicone breast implants and they are now approved for use in cosmetic surgeries for women over the age of 22.

4. Where’s the Incision Scar?

Since most women choose breast implants for cosmetic reasons, plastic surgeons always try to make the incisions as inconspicuous as possible. Often the cosmetic surgeon will choose the nipple, crease between the breast and chest, armpit, or the belly button so that they any scars which may appear after the surgery will be hidden.

5. All Surgery has Risks

Breast augmentation involves certain risks, as does any other type of operation. Although not common, breast implant patients are at risk of developing complications after surgery, including toxic shock syndrome, necrosis, hematoma and an increased risk of infection.

If you are interested in having breast implants, you should discuss any concerns or questions with Dr. Moulton-Barrett.

If you are considering cosmetic surgery for your nose, you should be aware that there are actually two different types of nose job procedures available to patients in Walnut Creek– Closed Nose Rhinoplasty and Open Nose Rhinoplasty. The cosmetic surgery you have will depend upon the type of changes you want to have made to your nose.

Closed Nose Rhinoplasty is the least invasive type of nose job. An incision is made on the inside of your nose and the plastic surgeon works beneath the skin for the procedure. There is very limited visual access during the surgery so not all nose job procedures can be done this way. Although there is some general initial discomfort, recovery is quick and easy.

Open Nose Rhinoplasty is a more intrusive procedure and involves the removal of the skin of the nose. This procedure provides your physician with greater access to the cartilage and tissue within the nose. Although the Open Nose Rhinoplasty procedure allows for greater shaping of the nose since it gives the surgeon more access, it can be a fairly complex procedure. Even with its complexity, some surgeons prefer the Open Nose Rhinoplasty because the results are more substantial. Recovery brings a bit more discomfort and lasts longer than the closed nose job option, but the results may be well worth it.

Either nose job cosmetic surgery option comes with some discomfort and recovery time, but serious complications are rare. Typical recovery issues that you should expect are swelling, bruising, nasal discomfort and you may experience trouble breathing during the recovery period.

If you are looking for a nose job in Walnut Creek, California, contact Dr. Moulton-Barrett to discuss which type of procedure would work best for you.

1. What can I do to prepare for cosmetic surgery to help ensure a good experience?

Doctors like patients who ask this question because it alerts them that the patient is concerned about their health before and after plastic surgery. Specific pre-surgery instructions include preparing for sedation anesthesia with anti-nausea measures, when to stop smoking, which medications to stop taking, when to end alcohol consumption, and other actions that can effect cosmetic surgery.

2. What steps can I take to maximize and prolong my cosmetic surgery results?

Plastic surgeons want your results to last as long as possible and are more than happy to give you advice to ensure you get maximum, long lasting results. Tips can range from protecting your face from sun and cold weather immediately following cosmetic surgery to advice about wearing a surgical bra after your procedure. A good Walnut Creek, California plastic surgeon will always tell their patients everything they need to know to help them before and after plastic surgery.

3. What results can I realistically expect from my cosmetic surgery?

Most patients claim to have reasonable expectations of their cosmetic surgery outcome, but others do get caught up in the fantasy and their imagination may tend to run a bit wild when it comes to thoughts of grandeur from the procedure. Doctors state that after surgery, some patients often scrutinize the results and focus on finding and focusing on minor imperfections, some of which were actually present prior to surgery but never noticed.

4. What are the factors that may contribute to my surgical outcome?

There is a long list of factors that can influence the outcome of your cosmetic surgery. In addition to the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon, other factors include your age, your nutrition level, the elasticity of your skin, your smoking history, and more.

5. Is there anything I should be aware of during recovery that needs attention?

Patients should know that each cosmetic surgery yields very different recovery times and procedures. It is important to remember that there may be dramatic swelling that may continue for weeks after cosmetic surgery and it takes time for the full effect of the surgery to come to fruition. It could be several months before you realize the full results, so you should wait to compare the before and after plastic surgery results.

If you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming plastic surgery, make sure to talk to Dr. Moulton-Barrett prior to your upcoming procedure.

Because this procedure is a surgical operation, you will be given either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation prior to the procedure. Once you are fully sedated, your surgeon will make a rather small incision big enough to insert a hollow tube. The tube, along with a surgical vacuum, will be used to suction out the excess fat.

Here are several tops to increase your desired results and reduce your post-surgery discomfort.

• Immediately after your surgery, your cosmetic surgery team will wrap the treated area in absorbent pads and either elastic bandages or a compression garment. The bandages or compression garments will need to be worn for three to six days. This helps to not only limit swelling, but create a smoother shape, using the compression. Excess blood and fluid are removed through small drainage devices, which will typically be drained within 24 to 48 hours.
• You will need someone to drive you home after surgery, and also be with you for the rest of the day. Beginning the day after surgery, you should start to work and resume very light physical activity. It’s important to wash the treated area with soap and water to keep the incision clean. Please refrain from using heating pads, ice packs, or bandages on the incision. If you experience irregular heartbeats, chest pains, or shortness of breath, contact your Brentwood doctor right away.

If you are interested in liposuction to help in the removal of stubborn body fat, contact Dr. Moulton-Barrett about the different options available to you.

Here’s some information to educate you on the most common types of techniques used in today’s breast lift cosmetic surgery procedures.

1. The Lollipop Lift – For women who have moderate sagging and don’t want breast implants, the lollipop lift technique is a good option. Known as a keyhole incision, the incision is made around the outside of the areola and down to the breast crease.
2. The Anchor Incision – The anchor incision is the oldest technique out there, and is often used in combination with a breast reduction. It tends to produce more scarring than other breast lift techniques. This is the technique of choice for women who have severe sagging, which less invasive procedures won’t be able to correct. The incision is similar to the lollipop lift incision, but the anchor incision includes another horizontal incision along the breast crease, which is referred to as the anchor.
3. The Crescent Lift – Here, your Brentwood surgeon makes an incision above the upper half of the areola in a crescent moon-like shape. Because it cannot provide the same amount of lifting as some of the other techniques, it’s suitable for women who have a very small amount of sagging.
4. The Donut Lift – This incision technique gets its name from the incision being made only around the perimeter of the areola. Women who have a mild to moderate degree of sagging will be best suited by this technique. When used in conjunction with implants, the donut lift cosmetic surgery technique provides an acceptable result for women with pronounced sagging.
5. The Scarless Lift – This technique is best suited for women who have very little sagging. Even though these procedures are touted as “scarless”, there still is an incision, albeit well-hidden or small. The scarless lift is often used in conjunction with other procedures like breast implants, smart lipo or thermage.

The four most common types of eyelid surgery are blepharoplasty, entropion repair, ectropian repair, and ptosis repair.

1. Blepharoplasty – Blepharoplasty is performed for both cosmetic and functional reasons and involves removing the excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids, or both. Over 100,000 people choose to have blepharoplasty each year.
2. Entropion repair – When the eyelids and eyelashes on either the upper or lower eyelid turn in toward the eye, entropion repair can correct the problem. Entropion typically occurs from aging, scarring or infection which results in weaker eyelid muscles. During an entropion repair operation, your Oakland surgeon will tighten the muscles of the eyelid, and may need to remove a portion of the lid. This can often be performed on an outpatient basis.
3. Ectropian repair – With ectropion, the eyelid cannot fully close, leaving the eye exposed. This can lead to a dry cornea, which can cause infection. A result of aging, infection, paralysis, scarring, or surgery, ectropion surgery tightens the muscles moving the eyelid back into its normal position.
4. Ptosis repair – Drooping of the eyelid, called ptosis, occurs as a result of aging, disease, or trauma. Children may also have this condition because of underdeveloped muscles. Because the dropping eyelid can impact the visual field, patients seek ptosis repair to improve their vision. In ptosis surgery, the surgeon tightens the muscle, called the levator muscle, responsible for lifting the eyelid. Your physician may also add extra muscle in order to enable it to lift the eyelid.

If you are considering Eyelid Surgery for either cosmetic or medical purposes, talk with Dr. Moulton-Barrett about which of these procedures will be the most beneficial for your needs.