woman’s health

Filling Eye Hollows with Dermal Fillers: What Are The Risks?

Deep hollows under your eyes can make you look tired and dull.

HA fillers can fill your hollows for a refreshed and more youthful look.

Filling eye hollows is a delicate business and there are risks. The biggest risk is bruising, lumps, overfilling and swelling. In some cases if not done properly it can actually make your lower eye area look worse.   Today there are more hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in the aesthetic tool box and techniques for treating this delicate area have improved.

I’ve read many posts online about patients who have had fillers and are experiencing puffiness, lumps, bruising, swelling and a baggy look after the injections. Others have  good results. I’ve also experienced good and bad results.  Please choose your injector wisely. This is a very difficult area to treat.

Performing “tear trough” treatments to the hollow area under the eyes requires meticulous technique.  When done correctly the results are very satisfying.  The most important factor is to go to an injector who is has a lot of experience in this area.

Below are some guidelines to consider before you jump into filling your eye hollows (tear trough).

Parts of this post was originally written in 20o9 when I had my tear troughs treated for the first time.

A business colleague had her tear trough area filled by a local plastic surgeon in San Francisco, CA .  I was very impressed with her results and decided to fill my eye hollows, for a more youthful look.  At the time there were only two HA fillers on the market Juvederm and Restylane. Although both fillers were very similar Juvederm tends to create more puffiness in the eye area than Restylane, as it absorbs more water. My surgeon choose Juvederm which surprised me because Restylane was the preferred filler for this area. However, I trusted his judgement.

Afterwards I very bruised, swollen and lumpy. I waited patiently a couple of weeks hoping it would resolve. The bruising diminished but the puffiness persisted. I looked like I had been punched in the face and knew that OI needed a correction. Fortunately HA fillers can easily be dissolved with hyaluronidase. (more…)

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Plastic Surgery Preparation and After Care Tips

As a plastic surgery coach I work with many clients throughout their plastic surgery journey, which also includes post-operative after care services.

It is very important if you are considering any plastic surgery procedure regardless of how small, that you prepare for the surgery and prepare for after care services. You may think that your friend or family member can take care of your needs after your surgery, however, it has been my experience time and time again that this is not a wise choice.

It is important to think about your plastic surgery recovery, even if your plastic surgeon says you will be fine.  It is in your best interest to  fully prepare for your after care with a Plan A and Plan B. Your recovery depends on this. Think of after care as part of your plastic surgery costs. You are protecting your investment.  Budget for between $350.00 – $1200 for your after care, not including any costs for accommodations. The cost will depend on if you are staying at an after care facility, hotel or Airbnb. The cost per day or per hour for after care services, your geographic location and whether you hire an RN. An RN is more costly and not really necessary unless you need IV meds or your surgeon insists you stay in the hospital  overnight.

 Preparation

  1. Prepare your body and mind for surgery. Take vitamins, increase your protein, hydrate and rest the days leading up to surgery.
  2. Purchase  everything you need in advance. Don’t wait until the day before surgery. 
  3. Line up a surgical buddy for emotional support, either a friend who understands or hire a plastic surgery coach.
  4. Arrange for time off of work. Always add on a little more time as everyone heals differently. 
  5. If you are out- of- town, arrange for a hotel stay near the surgeon’s office. Ask the hotel if they provide room service and let them know you will be recovering from a surgical procedure. 
  6. If you have small kids, arrange for a baby sitter in advance. 
  7. If you have animals, arrange for a dog walker or even kennel you animals for the first few days.
  8. Arrange for after care services with your surgeon’s office or go online to find a reputable service.  Friends and family are not the best after care people as they usually have no prior experience in taking care of a recovering plastic surgery patient.  You may have drains, leaky body fluids, bruising  and swelling.  You will  be emotional and in some discomfort.  You are doing yourself a disservice by not planning for the proper after care. 
  9. Always have a Plan B for your plastic surgery recovery. Don’t wait until the day of surgery.
  10. Remember you need to rest for a successful recovery.

SEAT DRINK HEAL

Eat, Drink, Heal: The Art and Science of Surgical Nutrition

Get Rid of Dull Skin: Exfoliation Tips

 Is your skin looking dull?  An easy way to get your skin glowing again is to exfoliate your skin regularly. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells which causes your skin to look dull.   It is also necessary for clear skin, free  of acne and blackheads. There are many ways to exfoliate, both your body and face.  Let’s talk about facial exfoliation.

1. Clarisonic system is the easiest way to get your glow back. Used daily you will see a significant difference in your skin.  There are different heads that you can buy, depending on your skin’s sensitivity.  I love mine and have had it for several years. Definitely  worth the investment. Clarisonic prices start at about $125.00 http://www.clarisonic.com/ Note that some kits come with cleansers. There are many options in OTC cleansers. My recommendation is to buy the machine only, with extra heads.

2. Buy a cleanser that contains glycolic or lactic acid.  These ingredients create exfoliation and cell turnover. You can find many professional brand name products online.  Or ask an esthetician or dermatologist for a recommendation.

3. Use a OTC Retinol product or  Retin-A Rx or  Tazorac Rx are also good choices. Your skin will shed the old cells and build new cells. Start off with a low dose of .05%. Using Retinoids will  also prevent acne and blackheads from forming. Retinols build collagen and ellastin necessary for healthy, youthful looking skin.

4. Get a chemical peel 2x a year. Change of seasons is a good time.  Peel are sometimes given in a series, this will depend on how much sun damage you have.  Time the peel accordingly, because you may be red and peeling for several days. Once your skin has peeled you will be amazed at how youthful, healthy and glowing it is.  Go to a licensed esthetician, RN, or Physician Assistant  who works either in a medi-spa, dermatologist or  plastic surgeon’s office.  There are many chemical peels available today. There are superficial peels, medium depth peels and deep peels. The strength of the peel will depend on what results you are seeking, your skin type and how much down- time you are willing to take. TCA (trichloroacetic acid)  peels and Glycolic acid peels are the most popular.   Chemical peels are recommended for  Hyperpigmentation, Sun damage, texture, pre-cancerous lesions, acne, lines, mild wrinkles, lip Creases. There are pre-cautionary measures to take prior to having a TCA peel, check with your skincare specialist first.

GO GET YOUR GLOW!!