Question: Though I religiously wear sunscreen now that I’m in my 30’s, I wasn’t always so careful in my teens. I’ve noticed some age spots. Is there anything that can be done about those?
Answer: Years of sun worship can severely damage skin. Wrinkles, sun spots, skin discoloration and looseness of the skin are the price we often pay for sun exposure without adequate protection.
DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation is an exciting cosmetic treatment that can noticeably improve the appearance of aged or sun-damaged skin, smooth wrinkles, and reduce the appearance of acne and other scars.
What is DOT Therapy Laser Skin Rejuvenation?
Dermal Optical Thermolysis is performed using the SmartXide DOT™ laser system - one of the most sophisticated laser systems on the market. Your doctor will apply a grid of tiny scanned pulses of laser energy to your skin during the DOT Therapy procedure.
How Does It Work?
The laser creates thousands of microscopic holes in your skin. This causes immediate tightening of the skin and stimulates the growth of new collagen – essential to younger, fresher-looking skin. DOT Therapy improves the skin’s tone and texture and fights fine lines, deep wrinkles, and discoloration caused by the sun and acne scars. Excellent results can usually be achieved in a single 30-minute session.
The DOT CO2 laser is superior to older laser skin resurfacing techniques because the microscopic treated areas are surrounded by healthy skin, causing the treated skin to heal more quickly.
What Can I Expect during the DOT Therapy?
Your doctor may use a topical anesthetic during the procedure for increased comfort. After the DOT Therapy procedure your skin will be red. A cold compress will be applied to alleviate discomfort. Over the next three or four days you may experience some peeling, similar to sunburn. Your doctor will give you a hydrating lotion to apply to the treated area. This will keep your skin moist and promote healing. Typically the skin returns to its normal appearance in seven to ten days. The results of your DOT Therapy procedure can last for years. In cases of severe wrinkling or deep acne scars a series of treatments may be required.
What Results Can I Anticipate with DOT Therapy?
DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation decreases pigmentation and fine lines, lifts and tightens skin, and reduces pores. You can get beautiful, natural results with DOT laser therapy in a single 30-minute treatment. DOT Therapy has minimal downtime compared to traditional CO2 laser which is the gold standard for skin resurfacing.
If your skin has been damaged by overexposure to the sun, acne scars, or environmental factors, DOT Therapy may be the non-surgical anti-aging solution for you. Contact Dr. Karsan, a qualified plastic surgeon, at 214-646-8777 to request a personal consultation to discuss how DOT Therapy laser skin resurfacing can improve the look and feel of your skin.
Question: Though I religiously wear sunscreen now that I’m in my 30’s, I wasn’t always so careful in my teens. I’ve noticed some age spots. Is there anything that can be done about those?
Answer: Years of sun worship can severely damage skin. Wrinkles, sun spots, skin discoloration and looseness of the skin are the price we often pay for sun exposure without adequate protection.
DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation is an exciting cosmetic treatment that can noticeably improve the appearance of aged or sun-damaged skin, smooth wrinkles, and reduce the appearance of acne and other scars.
What is DOT Therapy Laser Skin Rejuvenation?
Dermal Optical Thermolysis is performed using the SmartXide DOT™ laser system - one of the most sophisticated laser systems on the market. Your doctor will apply a grid of tiny scanned pulses of laser energy to your skin during the DOT Therapy procedure.
How Does It Work?
The laser creates thousands of microscopic holes in your skin. This causes immediate tightening of the skin and stimulates the growth of new collagen – essential to younger, fresher-looking skin. DOT Therapy improves the skin’s tone and texture and fights fine lines, deep wrinkles, and discoloration caused by the sun and acne scars. Excellent results can usually be achieved in a single 30-minute session.
The DOT CO2 laser is superior to older laser skin resurfacing techniques because the microscopic treated areas are surrounded by healthy skin, causing the treated skin to heal more quickly.
What Can I Expect during the DOT Therapy?
Your doctor may use a topical anesthetic during the procedure for increased comfort. After the DOT Therapy procedure your skin will be red. A cold compress will be applied to alleviate discomfort. Over the next three or four days you may experience some peeling, similar to sunburn. Your doctor will give you a hydrating lotion to apply to the treated area. This will keep your skin moist and promote healing. Typically the skin returns to its normal appearance in seven to ten days. The results of your DOT Therapy procedure can last for years. In cases of severe wrinkling or deep acne scars a series of treatments may be required.
What Results Can I Anticipate with DOT Therapy?
DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation decreases pigmentation and fine lines, lifts and tightens skin, and reduces pores. You can get beautiful, natural results with DOT laser therapy in a single 30-minute treatment. DOT Therapy has minimal downtime compared to traditional CO2 laser which is the gold standard for skin resurfacing.
If your skin has been damaged by overexposure to the sun, acne scars, or environmental factors, DOT Therapy may be the non-surgical anti-aging solution for you. Contact Dr. Karsan, a qualified plastic surgeon, at 214-646-8777 to request a personal consultation to discuss how DOT Therapy laser skin resurfacing can improve the look and feel of your skin.
Question: My face is beginning to show some signs of aging. The image in the mirror just doesn’t reflect to me how young and vital I feel inside. I’m considering a facelift. Can you tell me about it?
Answer: A cosmetic facelift reverses the effects of gravity and aging. The folds, creases, and wrinkles that age our faces are eliminated or substantially reduced. This gives the face a more youthful, refreshed appearance.
A facelift is a plastic surgery procedure used to remove excess skin and localized collections of fat. Underlying support is reinforced and tightened. The skin and tissues of the face and neck are repositioned. A cosmetic facelift repositions fallen cheek mounds, softens nasolabial grooves, and creates a smooth jaw line and more defined neck.
Over time the effects of gravity, a loss of volume, relaxation of the supportive tissues and loss of collagen negatively impact facial features and create the formation of:
- Jowls - The slack tissue at or above the jawlins
- Neck bands - A combination of saggy, excess skin, and a platysma muscle that becomes thick and cord-like can create the appearance of bands or deep creases that run from the jaw to the chest
- Double chin - Loose skin and subcutaneous fat underneath the chin create the appearance of a second chin.
- Flabby cheeks.
- Nasolabial grooves - Folds around the nose.
- Marionette grooves - Folds or a depression around the mouth.
These visible signs of aging can make us look considerably older. A surgical facelift can rejuvenate the overall appearance of your face, noticeably reduce the signs of aging, and leave you looking as vital on the outside as you feel on the inside.
What Results Should I Expect?
The procedure can make you look five to fifteen years younger depending on your age, facial structure, and level of skin elasticity. As a facial plastic surgeon I focus on giving patients a natural, balanced, appearance that makes them look refreshed and rejuvenated rather than "done."
Beautiful, natural results from plastic facial surgery begin with a comprehensive pre-operative consultation. An assessment of your unique facial structure, elasticity of skin, and extent of facial wrinkles and folds is made during the physical examination. A surgical plan is then customized to your individual needs. This includes details like the surgical technique that will be used; the location, design, and extent of the incision; and the direction of the lift.
Are you currently considering facial plastic surgery or a non-surgical anti-aging technique? Contact Dr. Karsan, an ethical facial plastic surgeon today to schedule a one-on-one consultation. Together we will select a technique that will make you look more youthful, refreshed and radiant — and completely natural. And we'll match the vitality of your insides with the image in the mirror.
Question: In looking to what I want in the New Year, I know that I want a fresher appearance, but I don't believe I'm ready for a surgical facelift. What do you suggest?
Answer: With the New Year fast approaching, many of my patients come to me because they want to look more rejuvenated. They want to eliminate the signs of aging that make them look tired, sad, or gaunt. These patients aren't quite ready for a surgical facelift - nor do they need one. Fortunately the non-surgical liquid lift is a good option for such patients. If you want to look your best in the coming year, a liquid lift may be the solution for you, too.
The Benefits of the Liquid Lift
The liquid lift is a minimally invasive, non-surgical anti-aging technique. Patients can achieve significant results with minimal downtime and minimal risk. That makes the liquid lift a convenient, cost-effective solution for many patients. You can get a liquid lift in your facial plastic surgeon's office in as little as 30 minutes for a fraction of the cost of traditional plastic surgery. With the proper maintenance, your results can last up to two years.
Noticeable results, less inhibitive cost, and minimal downtime make the liquid lift an excellent option for patients who want to look their very best without surgery. That’s why minimally invasive procedures like the liquid lift are growing in popularity with both doctors and patients.
What is a Liquid Lift?
A liquid lift is a non-surgical facelift achieved by using Botox® or Dysport® and facial fillers (a combination of Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, Restylane®). Traditional face lifts tighten the support layer of the face or SMAS and removes excess skin, a surgical procedure. A liquid lift restores volume by filling in deep lines and grooves below the skin using dermal fillers.
Botox® or Dysport® can produce a brow lift, reverse the down-turned mouth, diminish the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and neck bands. The filler is used to redefine the lips, restore volume, and diminish wrinkles on lips and around the mouth. Laugh lines and marionette lines are filled. Jowls are diminished. Volume is restored to the midface and cheeks. The result is a non-surgical facelift.
What You Should Know About the “Liquid Lift”
The liquid lift is an excellent tool for restoring natural facial contours and volume. However, like any cosmetic procedure, it isn’t right for everyone. For instance, a patient with sagging skin and a loss of elasticity may be a candidate for a traditional surgical facelift. The duration of the results achieved with a liquid facelift can last from a few months to two years depending on a variety of factors. In some cases, touch-up procedures may be required periodically to maintain optimal results. In contrast, a traditional facelift can offer more dramatic, longer lasting results.
Is the liquid lift the right option for you? Contact our office to learn more about the liquid lift and to discuss whether this minimally invasive, non-surgical anti-aging technique is the right one for you.
You recently received notice of your upcoming school reunion and you’re thrilled at the prospect of seeing old friends. But the thought of reuniting with friends from your youth has also likely made you hyperaware of the changes in your face since those days.
A variety of changes take place in our skin as a natural part of the aging process. Volume is lost in the face causing affected areas to sag and form grooves and wrinkles. These signs of aging have long been remedied using a traditional facelift which smoothes the skin by stretching it tight.
You want to look and feel your very best when you step through the doors of your alma mater, but you don’t want to do anything drastic – like surgery. Thankfully there is a non-surgical solution that will rejuvenate your skin and restore a fresher, more youthful look – the “liquid lift.”
What is a “Liquid Lift”?
The “liquid” lift is a non-surgical procedure that uses Botox® and injectable dermal fillers Juvéderm® and Restylane® to achieve smoother, more youthful-looking skin. Unlike a traditional facelift which stretches the skin, a “liquid lift” restores volume to the skin by filling in grooves and lines with dermal fillers. Botox® is used to relax facial muscles. This helps to prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles caused, in part, by repetitive facial movements.
The Benefits of the “Liquid Lift”
The traditional surgical facelift is highly-effective and the best option in many instances. Yet, the “liquid lift” - a minimally-invasive, non-surgical procedure – gives patients similar results without the risks of surgery or extended recovery time.
The “liquid lift” is a convenient, cost-effective solution for many patients. Your facial plastic surgeon can give you a “liquid lift” in her office in as little as an hour for a fraction of the cost of traditional plastic surgery. The convenience, less-inhibitive cost, and noticeable results make the “liquid lift” an excellent option for patients who want to look their very best without surgery. It is no wonder that minimally-invasive procedures like the “liquid lift” are growing in popularity with both doctors and patients.
What You Should Know About the “Liquid Lift”
The “liquid lift” is an excellent treatment for restoring fresher, more youthful skin. Still, it isn’t right for everyone. Patients with sagging skin and other advanced signs of aging may require a traditional facelift.
The results achieved with a “liquid facelift” can last up to two years depending on a variety of factors. In most cases, touch-up procedures will be required periodically to maintain optimal results. In contrast, a traditional facelift can offer more dramatic, longer-lasting results.
If you want to look and feel your best at your upcoming school reunion contact Dr. Karsan, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, at 214-646-8777 to see if the “liquid lift” is right for you.
"My wedding is planned for September. I want to look good in my wedding photos. Can anything be done about my acne scars?"
An increasing number of brides and grooms are posing this question. It is only natural to want to look your best on your wedding day - a day on which you will pose for countless photographs. Professional photographs are often retouched to remove scars and other blemishes. Candid photos taken by friends and family aren't likely to receive such treatment. This leaves many brides and grooms anxious about acne scars.
Acne scars are daily, visible reminders of a painful period battling problem skin. They typically form in response to inflamed lesions that cause damage deep in the skin’s dermis. As the wound heals the body forms new collagen to repair the damage. When there is a loss of tissue it causes a depressed or atrophic scar.
The most common atrophic scars are deep, narrow scars called ice pick scars. Wide, shallow scars with a wave-like appearance are called rolling scars. Deep, angular scars with well-defined edges are called boxcar scars. The depth of the acne scar in the skin made it challenging to reduce its appearance. However, advancements in cosmetic treatments make it easier to remove or dramatically improve acne scars.
Improving the Look of Acne Scars with Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Laser skin rejuvenation is an exciting cosmetic treatment that noticeably improves the appearance of acne scars. The treatment is performed by using the SmartXide DOT™ laser system - one of the most sophisticated laser systems on the market.
Using the laser, your facial plastic surgeon applies a grid of laser energy to your skin. Thousands of microscopic holes are created, stimulating the growth of collagen. There is an immediate tightening of the skin. Stimulated collagen growth progressively improves the tone and texture of skin. Optimal results are achieved six months after the procedure, but last for years.
Laser skin rejuvenation can be performed by a facial plastic surgeon during a single, thirty-minute session with minimal downtime. Ideal for the busy bride. Still - like most components of a perfect wedding – planning is required. Laser skin rejuvenation should be scheduled two to six months prior to your wedding day.
Are you anxious about the appearance of acne scars as your big day approaches? Laser skin rejuvenation is an effective treatment for acne scars that offers beautiful, natural results. Contact Dr. Karsan -- a board-certified facial plastic surgeon -- to learn how laser skin rejuvenation can improve the look of your acne scars before your wedding day. Call 214-646-8777 to request your personal consultation today.
Fine lines and wrinkles are an inevitable result of the aging process. Over time the skin loses moisture, volume and elasticity. These changes in the skin make it more susceptible to damage caused by environmental factors like the sun, wind, and cigarette smoke. We typically begin to develop these telltale signs of aging in our early to mid-thirties. However, overexposure to the sun and other environmental factors hasten the aging process.
Fine lines and wrinkles etched around the mouth and eyes can age our faces considerably. Perhaps you've discovered that the reflection in the mirror no longer reflects your youthful vitality.
You want to look more youthful and rejuvenated, but the thought of getting a surgical facelift is overwhelming. Fortunately, there is a non-surgical solution to reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles - the liquid facelift.
What is a Liquid Lift?
A liquid lift is a non-surgical facelift achieved by using Botox®, Dysport and facial fillers (a combination of Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, Restylane®). A traditional, surgical facelift achieves the look of tighter, smoother skin by creating an incision and stretching the skin. The non-surgical liquid lift takes a different approach. Volume is restored and deep lines and grooves are filled from the inside using dermal fillers.
Botox® or Dysport is used to lift the brow and diminish the appearance of forehead wrinkles, frown lines, crow's feet and neck bands. Facial fillers like Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, and Restylane® are used to diminish wrinkles on lips and around the mouth. Laugh lines and marionette lines are filled. Volume is restored to the mid-face and cheeks. The result is a non-surgical facelift.
What are the Benefits of a Liquid Lift?
The liquid lift is a minimally-invasive procedure which offers significant, noticeable results without the inherent risks of surgery. Your face will look naturally rejuvenated and refreshed, not overdone. Additionally, the liquid lift is:
Quick and convenient - Get a liquid lift in as little as thirty minutes.
- Cost-effective – The cost of a liquid lift is a fraction of what a traditional facelift costs
- Long-lasting - The results can last up to two years with proper maintenance.
The liquid lift offers beautiful, natural, long-lasting results, a less inhibitive cost, and minimal downtime. That makes the liquid lift an excellent option for patients who want to look their very best without surgery. Is the liquid lift right for you? Call Dr. Karsan, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, at 214-646-8777 to schedule a consultation. Discover whether this minimally-invasive, non-surgical anti-aging technique is the right one for you.
Summers spent lounging on a sun-drenched beach eventually take a toll on our skin. Wrinkles, sun spots, skin discoloration and loose skin are the result of continued sun exposure without adequate protection. Prolonged sun-damage robs our skin of its youthful vitality and prematurely ages us.
So how can we reduce the appearance of long-term sun damage? DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation is an exciting cosmetic treatment that noticeably improves the appearance of sun-damaged skin. DOT Therapy smoothes wrinkles. It can also reduce the appearance of acne and other scars.
What is DOT Therapy Laser Skin Rejuvenation?
Dermal Optical Thermolysis is performed using the SmartXide DOT™ laser system - one of the most sophisticated laser systems on the market. This sophisticated laser allows your facial plastic surgeon to apply a grid of tiny scanned pulses of laser energy to your skin, creating thousands of microscopic treatment areas.
The result is an immediate tightening of the skin. The tiny perforations in the skin also fuel the generation of collagen - an essential component to younger, fresher-looking skin. The stimulation of collagen growth is a key benefit to DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation.
Fine lines and discoloration caused by sun damage are minimized. The tone and texture of the skin are improved. DOT Therapy can also greatly improve the look of acne scars. All of this can be achieved during a single, thirty-minute session. The results of DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation can last for years.
Is DOT Therapy Laser Skin Rejuvenation Right for Me?
DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation can help you get beautiful, natural results. This exciting, non-surgical treatment reverses the appearance of sun damage by reducing discoloration, tightening skin, and reducing pores. Yet DOT Therapy laser skin rejuvenation can be performed during a single, brief session with minimal downtime.
Do you want to reduce the appearance of sun damage and restore younger, fresher skin? Contact Dr. Karsan - a board-certified facial plastic surgeon - to learn more. Call 214-646-8777 to request your personal consultation today.
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.
The grooves that form between the eyebrows when we frown (glabellar lines) - are a common concern for patients who want to look their best. What causes frown lines?
As we age our skin thins and experiences a loss of collagen - a natural part of the aging process. Environmental factors like exposure to the sun and cigarette smoke cause further skin damage. Our skin loses its elasticity or ability to bounce back quickly. Combine this compromised state with years of squinting and frowning and the result is deep creases and wrinkles.
Frown lines are not a serious medical condition. However, these etched lines between the brows age us and make us look tired, angry, or unapproachable. Perhaps you've noticed that you often look like you’re frowning - even when you're not. This is typically the case when a patient approaches me with the above question. The majority of these patients have moderate-to-severe frown lines which make them perfect candidates for non-surgical options like Botox® and Dysport.
Botox® and Dysport are purified proteins with a solid track record of improving moderate-to-severe frown lines for three to four months. These popular cosmetic treatments are administered in your cosmetic surgeon's office via precise localized injection. Botox® and Dysport block nerve signals that initiate facial muscle contractions. Muscles are relaxed and muscle activity which contributes to frown lines is minimized. Botox® and Dysport reduce current frown lines and prevent future wrinkles in the injected region.
What if I have deep frown lines? Is surgery the only option?
If you have deep frown lines muscle relaxers alone may not be a viable option. However, there are other non-surgical options for deep frown lines. Dermal fillers like Juvéderm® and Restylane® - injectable fillers made of hyaluronic acid - restore volume and smooth out wrinkles. Patients get smooth, natural-looking results that last for up to one year.
My patients get completely natural-looking results from muscle relaxers and injectable fillers. Non-surgical injections create a rejuvenated, refreshed look that last for months. Still the results are temporary. To get ongoing results expect to repeat the treatment every few months.
Are you experiencing moderate-to-severe frown lines that are prematurely aging your face or making you look sad, angry or tired? Contact me - Dr. Karsan, a board-certified 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.
