Facial Care Options
Mole and Skin Cancer Removal
Do you have a lesion on your face or body that is new or changing? It may turn out to be a cosmetic concern or be more serious, as today skin cancers occur more frequently. Dr. Morrison not only wants you to look your best, but cares about your skin health. Schedule a consult for a skin check if you see any changing moles, growing lesions or other significant concerns that need to be evaluated. He has 23 years of experience diagnosing and treating skin cancer and is interested in keeping you skin cancer free as well as beautiful. If you are diagnosed with a skin caner, Dr. Morrison has the experience and training to remove the cancer, utilize fresh frozen sections ensure clear margins and specializes in flap reconstruction.
Botox Cosmetic
Botox is the first FDA approved temporary treatment for facial wrinkles in its class. Allergan revolutionized the plastic surgery and cosmetic industry with Botulinum toxin for treatment of frown lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet back in 1989. Botox injections reach maximum effect in 5 to 7 days and lasts 4 to 6 months in most patients. It works by blocking the signal from the nerves to targeted muscle. This results in temporary muscle relaxation reducing muscle “pull” on the skin resulting in fewer wrinkles. Dr. Morrison has 23 years of experience with Botox and would be happy to discuss your cosmetic goals and all your treatment options. Botox can be used in conjunction with other treatments to obtain even better results and Dr. Morrison would be happy to personally evaluate your concerns and discuss a plan tailored specifically to your needs and goals.
Restylane and Fillers
An important, naturally occurring protein and sugar molecule in our skin has been synthesized and concentrated to be an injectable treatment form that fills in wrinkles on the face. It is used frequently for prominent naso-labial folds, marionette lines (excessive frowns at the corners of the mouth) and for increasing lip volume. There are slightly different products available to enhance it for specific areas such as in the upper outer cheek regions. The treatments last around 8 to 10 months depending the product and location of injection. There can be some mild bruising but the effects are instantaneous with recovery is minimal. Restylane is also an option for deep grooves under the eyelids and similar variations can be used to improve lateral cheek volume and appearance.
Fat Injections
Fat can be harvested from areas such as the abdomen and transferred into other areas such as the face for use as a long lasting filler. It is often used for lower eyelids as a part of a blepharoplasty and works well for cheek enhancement and around the lips. About half of the fat that is injected will survive. This allows for a more permanent solution for facial volume loess associated with aging. It is a good option when the volume loss and wrinkles are more severe than what treatment with other fillers alone will adequately treat.
Peels and Resurfacing Laser
Facial resurfacing with chemical peels or a laser removes the damaged, outermost layer of skin and induces a healing response with higher quality skin and better collagen. This improves the skin color and reduces wrinkles. The recovery phase for skin regeneration and healing takes about a week for the deeper treatments but much less for superficial treatments. Depending upon your goals, treatments can be more effective with a longer recovery or can be done with a shorter recovery in mind.
Chin and Neck Liposuctioning
This procedure can be done in the office under local and can have very significant effect. This works especially well if you have excess, localized fat in the submental region out of proportion to the rest of your face. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and recovery to full activity including exercise is about 5-7 days. Patients with good skin quality preoperatively can expect good skin re-contouring in the neck post op. I have found that for the right patient this can be very helpful to improve your appearance in a cost effective manner with limited downtime.
Eyelid Rejuvenation
Upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty is done often under sedation in an outpatient ambulatory setting. It takes about 1 hour for the upper eyelids and 1 hour for the lower eyelids. Careful preoperative assessment of physical findings and goals is important for selecting the best method. Careful attention to preoperative conditions such as dry eyes and loose eyelids are important to consider for possible adjunct procedures such as canthopexy. Also, addressing nearby issues such as prominent lower eyelid grooves and forehead position is important. Fat grafts or fat repositioning are important aspects of the surgery. If the brow position is low, an endoscopic forehead lift may also be recommended.
Neck and Face lift
Neck and face lifts are still important options for improving ones appearance as gravity and excess skin develop over time. Patients with more localized excess skin limited to the neck will benefit from a neck lift. The procedure can either be done via an incision under the chin, direct neck lift, or over the lower lateral cheeks by the ear. If the changes include substantial lax skin of the lower face, then a face lift can be added to the procedure. The simple neck lifting procedures can be done in the office under local while the more involved neck lifts and face lifts require general anesthesia. Today, important options for add-on treatments can either make a lift look better and may even help you delay or avoid the need for a surgical face lift.
Forehead Lift
Forehead lifts have significantly improved with the advent of the endoscopic technique. The endoscope allows for minimal incisions in the hairline nearly eliminating any visible scaring. Forehead lifts put the brow back into a normal location decreasing the “scowl” look, improving the upper eyelid position and reducing/eliminating forehead wrinkles. It can be performed at an ambulatory surgery center under sedation or general anesthesia and takes about an hour and a half to perform. It is often done at the same time with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
Alternatively, forehead lifts can also be done by removing skin directly over the brow with the scar being hidden by the upper brow hairline. It is cost effective as it can be done in the office without the need for sedation and only takes about 30 minutes to perform. With careful technique the scars are very favorable and recovery is minimal.