Question: 2011 was a great year for me. I lost 50 pounds and completed my first marathon. I am in the best shape of my life except for one thing: my face looks so gaunt and tired all the time. I want my face to look as great as the rest of me. What do you advise?
Answer: Running has the ability to favorably transform the body—who among us doesn’t yearn to lose a few pounds?—but sometimes, there’s an unwanted change that occurs along the cheeks, temple, and the space between the edge of the nose and the lips. Some folks call it "Runner's Face".
Loss of volume around the eyes, mouth and hollows leave the face looking gaunt and tired – even when we’ve had a full night’s rest. There are several non-surgical, anti-aging treatments that restore facial volume. One option is injectable fillers. Fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse® have been used for many years with proven, consistent results.
Fillers are a quick, non-surgical option to give cheeks a fuller, more youthful appearance as well as reduce hollowness around the eyes. Fillers can also raise depressed scars, define and plump lips, and reduce lines around the lips.
A variety of injectable fillers are available:
- Juvéderm® is made of hyaluronic acid - a naturally occurring sugar found in all mammals. It hydrates skin, smoothes out wrinkles, and restores volume. You get smooth, natural-looking results that last up to a year.
- Restylane® is made from hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin. It reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles by adding volume to the skin. Results can be seen instantly and last six to twelve months. Downtime is minimal.
- Radiesse® is made of calcium hydroxylapatite. Its unique formulation stimulates the production of new collagen – an essential component to youthful, healthy skin. The result is natural-looking wrinkle correction that lasts six to twelve months.
Which filler is right for you? A qualified facial plastic surgeon will help you choose the filler that will give you the best results. Contact Dr. Karsan at 214-646-8777 to learn how non-surgical, injectable fillers can make your face look as youthful and vibrant as your body.
Nasolabial folds - also known as smile lines - are the result of numerous factors converging. Similar to frown lines, the cause of smile lines is far more complicated than the term indicates. The repeated muscle movement required to smile does play a role in the formation of smile lines. However, this isn't the only factor involved.
As we age, the collagen in our skin breaks down and the production of new collagen slows. Our skin becomes thinner and we lose facial volume. We also lose some support of the tissue below the skin. Environmental factors - like sun exposure, wind, and pollution further damage the skin. Environmental damage, loss of support and a loss of volume and elasticity compromise our skin's ability to bounce back. Throw in years of repetitive muscle action - even an action as innocuous as smiling - and deep grooves begin to form. So what can be done to reduce the look of smile lines? Fortunately, a variety of options are available.
Available Treatment Options for Frown Lines
There are a number of treatments to reduce the appearance of smiles lines ranging from collagen injections to fat grafting. The two treatments I recommend for my patients most often are hyaluronic acid (Juvéderm® and Restylane®) and calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse®). Both treatments offer beautiful, natural results that last several months.
Juvéderm® and Restylane® are injectable facial fillers derived from hyaluronic acid - a sugar that occurs naturally in the body. Hyaluronic acid gives our skin volume and fullness. When hyaluronic acid is injected into wrinkled skin it reduces the look of wrinkles and adds volume to the skin. Fullness is maintained as the hyaluronic acid attracts and binds to water. The results can last six months or more. Juvéderm® and Restylane® are the perfect option for patients with moderate-to-severe smile lines. However, deep smile lines sometimes require another option.
Radiesse® is an injectable facial filler made of calcium hydroxylapatite - tiny calcium-based microspheres suspended in a natural, water-based gel. Patients receive immediate lift and volume which diminishes the look of grooves and wrinkles. Radiesse® stimulates the body's natural ability to produce collagen for up to a year. Deep lines are rejuvenated. Hollows and depressions are lifted. The face is rejuvenated and a youthful appearance is restored. Radiesse® is clinically proven to create safe, natural results that last up to a year.
Want to discover how you can reduce the look of smile lines and get safe, natural, long-lasting results? Schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Karsan, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Call 214-646-8777 to schedule your appointment today.
Have you noticed that your cheeks are becoming hollow? This is caused by diminished volume in the mid-face and cheeks as we age. The loss of volume causes the face to look gaunt and haggard. The result is a severe, aged appearance that doesn't reflect your youthful vitality.
Whether you've lost cheek volume due to aging or were born with small cheekbones, a qualified facial plastic surgery can:
- Restore lost volume in the mid-face.
- Create fuller cheeks.
- Create more angular, chiseled cheek bones.
- Restore facial balance.
- Give you a fresher, more rejuvenated appearance.
There are two options for increasing volume in the mid-face or cheeks. The first option is to use injectable fillers such as Radiesse®, Juvéderm® or Restylane® to enhance the cheeks. Many patients get striking results from injectable fillers. This non-surgical option offers patients a temporary solution that can last as long as eighteen months, depending on the filler used. The second option - cheek augmentation - offers a more permanent solution.
What is Cheek Augmentation?
Cheek augmentation is a surgical procedure in which an implant is placed into the cheek through a small incision made at the gum line. A snug pocket is created directly over the cheekbone in which the implant will be placed. Optionally, the cheek implant may be secured by affixing it to the bone or soft tissue. The entire procedure can be completed in less than an hour. Cheek augmentation can be performed as a single procedure or in connection with other cosmetic procedures. Since the implant is placed through the mouth so there is no visible scar.
Select a skilled, knowledgeable facial plastic surgeon with an eye for creating aesthetic proportion. Cheek implants are constructed of silicone or other biocompatible materials. Implants are available in multiple sizes and shapes. An experienced facial plastic surgeon will choose an implant that will accommodate your unique facial structure and create the desired result.
Most patients experience minimal discomfort from cheek augmentation. They may experience some tightness following the surgery due to the additional volume of the cheek implant. Some swelling is also expected immediately following surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with a list of post-surgery instructions to ensure the best recovery possible.
Am I a Good Candidate for Cheek Augmentation?
- You may be a good candidate for cheek augmentation if you:
- Have lost volume in your mid-face or cheeks due to aging.
- Have hollow cheeks.
- Were born with small cheek bones.
- Want fuller, more youthful looking cheeks.
- Want to achieve aesthetically harmonious facial balance.
- Are considering other complementary cosmetic procedures.
- Need a more long-term solution than injectable fillers offer.
A knowledgeable facial plastic surgeon will discuss possible options and help you determine whether cheek augmentation is right for you. Computer-generated imaging can give you a better idea of the final results you should expect from cheek augmentation. If you want to restore volume in the mid-face or create a more defined cheekbone call the office of Dr. Karsan - a qualified, experienced facial plastic surgeon - to make a consultation appointment today.
Do you want to look your very best this holiday season? This is a request I often get from patients who want to look vibrant and well-rested this holiday season. As we age a loss of volume can cause wrinkles and hollowing of skin. This makes the face look drawn, and gaunt. We begin to look tired, sad, or angry - no matter how we really feel.
A patient came to me recently because her skin had lost is youthful, supple appearance. She had some wrinkling and hollowing of the skin that is a typical effect of aging. She wanted to improve the look and feel of her skin, but felt she was too young for a facelift. Fortunately there are several proven, non-surgical anti-aging treatments currently available to those who want to rejuvenate the look of their skin.
Juvéderm®
Juvéderm® is an injectable gel filler made of hyaluronic acid - a naturally occurring sugar found in all mammals. Made by the creators of Botox® and approved by the FDA in June 2006, Juvéderm® helps to hydrate skin, smooth out wrinkles, and restore volume. A facial plastic surgeon injects Juvéderm® under the skin to smooth away wrinkles around the mouth and nose (smile lines, marionette lines, and vertical lines). Patients get smooth, natural-looking results that last for up to one year. Juvéderm® XC, now infused with lidocaine, offers patients a minimally-invasive procedure and improved comfort.
Restylane®
Restylane® is made from hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin. Hyaluronic acid is found throughout the body as well as in most other living organisms. It has many functions, from giving the skin elasticity to lubricating joints. Restylane® is well accepted by patients since it is a genetically engineered substance already found in the body.
Restylane® adds fullness to the skin to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The results of Restylane can be seen instantly. Downtime is minimal with this non-surgical dermal filler. Your doctor can use Restylane® to restore facial contour, rejuvenate the skin and improve the look of frown lines, worry lines, crow’s feet, tired eyes and smoker’s lines. The results last six to twelve months, depending on the individual and the area treated.
Radiesse®
Youthful, healthy skin contains collagen. Collagen gives the skin volume and flexibility. As your skin ages the collagen in skin breaks down. The diminished volume of collagen in your skin results in wrinkles, facial lines and a loss of elasticity.
Radiesse® is an injectable filler made of calcium hydroxylapatite. It is used to replenish lost volume and fill moderate to severe facial wrinkles, folds and depressions around the eyes, nose and mouth. Its unique formulation stimulates the production of new collagen. The result is natural looking wrinkle correction that can last from six to twelve months, depending on the area treated.
What Fillers Can Do for You This Holiday Season
I used fillers to help the patient mentioned earlier to achieve beautiful, natural results. Why? Because I have used these products for many years with proven, consistent results. Fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse® can be used by a qualified plastic surgeon to:
- Elevate depressed scars
- Define and plump the lips
- Reduce lines on and around the lips
- Augment cheeks to give them a more youthful appearance
- Reduce the appearance of jowls and restore the jaw line
- Reduce hollowness around the eyes
- Reshape the nose (non-surgical nose job)
Are you experiencing loss of volume or hollowing that is causing you to look older, tired, sad, or angry? Contact Dr. Karsan, a qualified Facial plastic surgeon, at 214-646-8777 to learn how non-surgical, injectable fillers can turn back the clock and make you look more youthful, vibrant, and refreshed in this year’s holiday photos.
