Many people consider rhinoplasty because they want to smooth out a bump on the bridge of their nose or change its overall shape.

 The “Old Way” vs. a “Newer Approach” to Nose Reshaping

Traditional Method: Think of the traditional way like sculpting from the top. To reduce a bump or lower the bridge, surgeons would remove bone and cartilage directly from the top of your nasal bridge. While this can fix the bump, it can sometimes change the natural lines of your nose quite a bit, and there’s a risk it might look a little “done” or unnatural.

Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty (The Newer Approach): This is what we’re excited about! “Dorsal” just refers to the bridge of your nose. “Preservation” means we try to keep its natural structure and lines as much as possible.

How it’s Different: Instead of removing bone and cartilage from the top of the bridge, the surgeon makes changes from underneath. Imagine carefully lowering the entire bridge structure from below, rather than chiseling away at the surface. This helps keep the original smooth lines of your nose intact.

The Goal: To give you the results you want (like removing a bump) while respecting and maintaining your nose’s unique, natural appearance.

Why Patients Often Prefer This Preservation Technique

The results with dorsal preservation rhinoplasty tend to make patients happier, which means it’s less likely you’d need a follow-up surgery (revision rhinoplasty). Here’s why:

1. Keeps Your Nose Looking Naturally Yours: It helps maintain the natural width and smooth contours of your nasal bridge.
2. Better for Straightening a Crooked Nose: It can lead to improved symmetry if your nose is a bit crooked.
3. Less Reconstruction Needed: Your surgeon usually needs less cartilage to rebuild or support the nose.

In short, dorsal preservation rhinoplasty is an advanced technique that aims to correct issues like a nasal bump while ensuring your nose still looks like your nose, fitting naturally with your face. It’s about refining, not completely rebuilding, to achieve a look you’ll love.

How do you achieve a more youthful face if you are not ready for or interested in a facelift? Can you get great results without a facelift? We say, “Absolutely.” Short of a facelift, we recommend three effective procedures for a more youthful, refreshed look.

BLEPHAROPLASTY

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of your eyelids. It helps reduce the look of tired eyes from your lower lids and removes drooping skin from your upper lids. You can focus on just the upper or lower lids, or address both at the same time.

CO2 LASER RESURFACING

CO2 laser treatment aims to improve the appearance of the skin by removing the top layer and stimulating the formation of new skin cells. CO2 Laser Resurfacing is used to tighten the skin and to treat fine lines. It also treats wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and scarring.

FAT TRANSFER

Facial fat transfer uses a person’s own existing body fat to restore volume to and plump sunken or sagging areas of the face. This procedure is used to treat deep creases on the forehead or between the eyebrows as well as hollow areas under the cheeks and eyes. It can also aid with contouring around the nose, temples, upper lip and the jaw.

Each of these procedures requires confirmation that you are a candidate, as well as some downtime.

This patient had all three of these procedures: lower eyelid surgery with fat grafting and CO2 laser resurfacing of the skin around the eyelids.

When Should You Choose a Facelift?

While we have described some effective procedures for facial rejuvenation, sometimes these methods don’t do the trick.

Maybe you have tried injectables and chemical peels for a while, and they do not provide the long-term results you want. Or perhaps laser or radio frequency treatments just are not achieving what you want.

Whatever the reason, facelift surgery can achieve results that non-surgical results cannot match. Facelift surgery can reposition and lift facial tissues, which is something non-surgical options cannot replicate. It can also remove excess skin, which can roll back the clock on the face by years.

We are excited to announce that The Appearance Center now offers Sylfirm X, a minimally-invasive radiofrequency (RF) treatment that is safe and effective on all skin types.

What is Sylfirm X?

Sylfirm X improves both skin texture (fine lines, scarring) and skin tone (brown spots and redness).

It is the first and only FDA approved RF microneedling device featuring dual wave settings. One setting increases collagen production treating skin wrinkles or acne scarring. Another setting evens out redness and dark spots associated with sun damage.

Amazingly, it does all this with minimal pain and downtime. Downtime typically involves 1 day of redness.

Sylfirm X is effective in treating a variety of skin issues, including:

• Fine lines

• Wrinkles

• Skin laxity

• Acne scars and other types of scarring

• Stretch marks

• Hyperpigmentation

• Enlarged pores

• Mild to moderate sagging skin

• Skin redness

• Vascular issues like rosacea

How it Works

Sylfirm X uses microneedles and radiofrequency technology to transmit thermal energy deep into the skin. This system administers an accurate amount of energy at a specific depth during the treatment. Unlike other devices, Sylfirm X reacts ONLY to abnormal blood vessels and tissue to selectively treat increased pigmentation and vascular lesions. It is the only RF microneedling device approved for hard-to-treat conditions like rosacea and melasma.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Sylfirm X is safe on all skin types, including darker skin tones. The best candidates are healthy patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, fine lines, stretch marks, acne scars, and/or pigmentation concerns.

How Long Do Results Last?

You can see significant improvement with three sessions. Because it is a collagen producing treatment, the results do not “wear off” after any amount of time.

Obvious results are normally seen after just one treatment. However, to help achieve the maximum benefit, a three-treatment series is suggested, with each treatment four to six weeks apart.

The chin plays a critical role in the balance of facial features. A strong chin can create a greater appearance of strength, symmetry and self-confidence. We offer several options to enhance the size and appearance of your chin.

 

WHAT IS A CHIN IMPLANT?

Placement of a chin implant, also known as chin augmentation, provides definition for the lower face and balances the facial profile. Chin implants are made of various biocompatible materials and are custom-shaped for a natural looking fit. The results are permanent but can be reversed if desired.

Chin implants are used to correct a weak chin or to balance a strong nose. Patients who undergo chin augmentation love their results!

MALE CHIN AUGMENTATION

Male chin augmentation can redefine a jawline and strengthen the chin, creating facial harmony. A sharp, powerful chin is often considered the cornerstone of masculinity. Chin augmentation is a safe and effective way to restore what has been lost or enhance the current appearance.

CHIN IMPLANT & NECK LIPOSUCTION

Patients with excess fullness beneath the chin often choose to have neck liposuction at the same time as chin implant surgery. While strengthening the chin will help improve jawline definition on its own, removing excess fat from underneath the chin can further improve the appearance of the lower face and neck.

 

NONSURGICAL SOLUTION: INJECTABLES

Augmentation with filler is a great alternative for those who prefer nonsurgical treatment options, or who want to get a glimpse into how a chin augmentation would look.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Madorsky’s article on the interaction between bone and chin implants has been published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global.

This research provides significant insights into the science of chin augmentation, notably by dispelling the misconception that implants cause bone erosion. The article decodes the complexities of implant-periosteum interaction and offers valuable guidance for improved chin implant procedures.

Background: 

Bone resorption has been imputed to silicone chin implants as the cause of the reported bone changes with chin augmentation. Bone remodeling is complex. Both neo-ossification and bone resorption can occur.

Methods: 

A literature review was performed on bone complications of silicone chin implants and bone remodeling with periosteal manipulation. Available data from plastic surgical and dental literature, alongside a case observation showing neo-ossification 10 years after implantation, were analyzed and used to explain patterns of bone changes around chin implants.

Results: 

Periosteal elevation induces bone formation. Spur-like neo-ossification with silicone chin implants is caused by subperiosteal implant placement. Our case describes such neo-ossification 10 years after silicone chin implantation. The pressure of an implant on bone can cause limited bone resorption. The pressure of an implant trapped under a forming bone shelf can cause significant bone resorption in rare cases.

Conclusions: 

Previously reported mandibular bone resorption ascribed to silicone chin implants has been overwrought. Bone formation is more common with silicone chin augmentation. We propose surgical modifications to limit bone complications of chin implants based on the reviewed literature. Surgical approaches to periosteal elevation and implant insertion and consideration of alternate biomaterials to silicone chin implants may improve outcomes of chin augmentation.

See Full Article Here.

 

“A Mommy Makeover is just a Breast Augmentation and Tummy Tuck, right?” 

Not according to Dr. Suzanne Quardt (aka Dr Q). That is a limiting definition of what this life-changing transformation can include. In Dr. Quardt’s practice, a Mommy Makeover is any combination of procedures that a woman and her plastic surgeon deem beneficial to make her look and feel her best. There is no set formula, but more of a “mixing and matching” of specific procedures tailored to achieve each patient’s desired results for this new stage in her life. 

Dr. Quardt guides each patient through the process, educating them on their options, what is realistic and best for them, and how to best prepare for and recover from their procedures.

“It is so rewarding for me, as a female surgeon and mother, to help women to look and feel their best after the wonderful, life-changing (yet body-altering) event of becoming a mother.”

Mommy Makeovers can include any combination of a wide range of procedures such as the following:

• Breast Augmentation – with implants, or through fat transfer
• Breast Lift – to create perky breasts by removing excess skin, or to enhance breast shape and breast size along with implants
• Breast Reduction – to reduce overly large breasts and also create a lift
• Liposuction – to the abdomen, hips, thighs, back in order to create a waistline and contour the body
• Tummy Tuck or Mini Tummy Tuck – to remove excess skin and fat and flatten the underlying abdominal muscles (often combined with liposuction)
• Labiaplasty – to reduce redundant outer lip skin/tissue

Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding certainly change a woman’s body, but the Mommy Makeover isn’t about “restoring a pre-pregnancy body” per se. It is more about determining a woman’s unique needs and goals moving forward, and establishing a road map with the advice and expertise of her surgeon to attain the optimal body aesthetic for each woman’s unique stage in their lives.

This 49-year-old mother complained of loss of fullness of her breasts after having one child and breastfeeding. She was very fit, but didn’t like a small flap of skin on her lower abdomen. She underwent a Breast Augmentation with Silicone Gel Implants as well as Mini Tummy Tuck.

This 30-year-old mother of one lost about 80 pounds after her pregnancy. She desired fuller breasts and a flat tummy. She underwent a Breast Augmentation using “Gummy Bear” Implants, a Tummy-Tuck, and Liposuction of her torso.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Suzanne Quardt, a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, has joined our practice!! She recently relocated from the Palm Desert area to Newport Beach, and joined the Appearance Center based on its reputation for outstanding patient care.
 

With extensive training at top institutions, including a surgical residency and two fellowships at USC, and over 20 years of experience, Dr. Quardt is a trusted expert in aesthetic surgery, known for her compassionate approach and exceptional surgical skills.

“I offer a Surgeon’s Hand with a Woman’s Touch.”
Suzanne Quardt, MD

As a female plastic surgeon, wife, and mother, Dr. Quardt has a particular passion for women’s cosmetic concerns. She specializes in breast augmentation, liposuction and tummy tucks, and can help women translate their treatment goals into realistic outcomes.
 

Known for her warm, approachable demeanor, Dr. Quardt makes every patient feel comfortable and empowered throughout their surgical journey. Her commitment to excellence, combined with her deep understanding of the female perspective, has made her a go-to surgeon for women wanting to look and feel their best.

As we age, our temple areas lose fat, leading to a “hollow” look with a decrease in natural volume. Injectables such as hyaluronic acid dermal fillers or Sculptra can help fill in these areas and restore volume to the temple and brow area.

Injectables in the temple provide immediate results with little to no recovery time. It is a relatively quick, in-office treatment and does not require anesthesia. A topical or injectable anesthetic may be used to reduce pain from the injection.

Injectables are temporary but typically last 1-2 years in the temples before needing to be redone. These procedures are largely considered safe when administered by a skilled injector.

Dermal fillers we offer include Voluma, Restylane Contour, and Restylane Lyft. We also offer Sculptra, which is a biostimulatory injectable that stimulates collagen production. Each product has its own benefits. Consulting with a provider allows us to select the best product based on your goals and anatomy.

 

 

The jawline can be a crucial part of facial aesthetics. A strong jawline in men is often associated with attractiveness and confidence. For women, a jawline can represent youth and beauty. We offer two approaches to refining the jawline: liposuction and injectables.

LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction of the jawline is a procedure where a skilled surgeon removes excess fat to improve the jaw’s contour. It can be done on its own or combined with other facial procedures. The results of this procedure are considered permanent for most patients.

INJECTABLES

Allergan (the maker of BOTOX and JUVEDERM) has created a product specifically for the jawline. This ​​long-lasting filler, called VOLUX, is FDA-approved and is the first and only HA filler specifically designed for jawline definition.

VOLUX is a slightly more cohesive and thicker formula than JUVEDERM VOLUMA. Both of these fillers build volume and create a lift beneath the skin, but while VOLUMA is FDA-approved for the chin and cheeks, VOLUX is FDA-approved to treat the jawline.

The procedure only takes a few minutes, and any swelling is dramatically improved within 48 hours. Results last between 12 and 18 months.

Kenny Bernstein, known as the King of Speed, is a renowned drag racer and successful buisnessman. In his nearly 40-year career as a racer, he collected dozens of event victories and multiple championship titles, most of these with his iconic Budweiser King Race Team.

 

 

He is nicknamed “the King of Speed” because he was the first driver to break 300 miles per hour in the standing-start quarter mile. Bernstein owned King Racing, which he drove for in the NHRA and fielded various cars in other racing series such as IndyCar and NASCAR.

 

 

In this installment of Skin Cancer Stories, we get to know the King of Speed, talk to him about the ups and downs of his illustrious racing career, and explore his journey with skin cancer at the SCARS Center. It also details his reconstructive surgery post skin cancer removal.

SEE STORY HERE