Whether you’re looking to reduce wrinkles, minimize scars, or improve overall skin texture, CO2 laser treatment could be the answer.

What Does Fractional CO2 Laser Do?

Fractional CO2 laser is a cosmetic procedure that improves skin texture, tone, and overall appearance. The laser ablates the top layer of skin removing sun damage as well as creates microscopic channels in the skin, known as microthermal zones. These processes stimulate the body’s natural healing response, which promotes collagen production and triggers the replacement of damaged skin with new, healthier tissue.

Key Benefits of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment

• Wrinkle Reduction: especially of lower face
• Scar Improvement: acne scars and surgical scars
• Pigmentation Correction: uneven pigmentation, sunspots, and age spots
• Treats superficial sun damage

 

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Fractional CO2 laser is a versatile treatment suitable for patients of various ages and skin concerns. Ideal candidates include those looking to improve fine lines/wrinkles, scarring, and/or dark spots. It is safest for patients with lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick I-III).

The Procedure

A fractional CO2 laser procedure can be performed in the clinic or operating room. Here’s what you can expect during the treatment:

• Consultation: Before the procedure, you will have a consultation with a qualified practitioner to discuss your concerns, assess your skin, and determine if fractional CO2 laser is the right option for you.
• Day of Treatment: Topical Anesthesia: a topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area to minimize discomfort
• Pre-Medication: Your clinician may prescribe some medications to make the process more relaxing and comfortable. 
• Nerve Blocks: You may receive lidocaine injections to further numb the sensitive areas of treatment 

The laser treatment is customized based on skin, treatment areas, and goals. The laser can also be performed in the OR setting and combined with additional facial rejuvenation procedures such as eyelid surgery or facelift surgery.

Recovery Process

• Immediate Recovery: The treated area will likely be red and swollen after the procedure. It may feel similar to a bad sunburn.
• Peeling and Flaking: Over the next few days, the skin will begin to peel and flake as the damaged outer layers are replaced with fresh, new skin. It’s important to avoid picking at the skin to prevent scarring.
• Sun Protection: Protecting your skin from sun exposure is crucial during the recovery period. Sun exposure may lead to increased hyperpigmentation.
• Total recovery time depends on intensity of treatment 

Please contact the Appearance Center to consult with a qualified practitioner.

Fine lines, wrinkles, loose skin, and other signs of aging are perfectly natural, and many of us reach a point where we want to “do something.” But what does that mean? After looking into the options, you may be asking, “should I choose fillers or surgery?’

We turn to two of our top physicians with this question.

Simon Madorsky, MD is a Facial Plastic Surgeon.

“Judicious use of filler can really enhance natural features,” assures Dr. Madorsky, “but over time, there can be limited results, as well as a necessity for repeated procedures. They have their place, but cannot replace surgery. They will not remove extra skin or extra fatty tissue.”

“Fillers can be overdone. We are seeing something I call Filler Fatigue. People are getting over-filled and often look unnatural.”

The ideal candidate for facial fillers is someone who has minor to moderate signs of aging on their face. These candidates are usually between 30 and 55, since older people may have significantly loosened skin and the presence of other things like bags under their eyes and jowls, which will not respond well to filler injections.

The ideal candidate for surgery, such as a blepharoplasty or facelift, is someone who has more advanced signs of aging in the face and neck. A surgical procedure can address many more issues than facial filler can. That said, candidates still need to be in good enough overall health to undergo surgery and will need adequate support and downtime to recover from the procedure.

This patient underwent blepharoblasty (evelid surgery). She was advised her that iniectables would have a limited and temporary impact.

Choosing Both Options

Some patients use fillers as a way to “try on” a new face and to helo them decide whether they want to move forward with surgical procedures.

One example of this is the “liquid rhinoplasty,” where the shape of the nose is changed with filler, albeit temporarily. There are also subtle enhancements to the eye area and jawline that can be made with filler and Botox, but don’t have the longevity of a surgical procedure. This is an option worth considering when you talk with your provider.

Congratulations to Dr. Adam Aronson and Dr. Alexander Miller for being named America’s Best Dermatologists 2023 by Newsweek.

We are honored to have two of our physicians receive this great recognition, and proud of the incredible care they provide to our patients.

The list is split by cosmetic and medical dermatologists. In total, 150 cosmetic dermatologists and 175 medical dermatologists were awarded and some (including Dr. Aronson!!) were awarded in both specialties.

Spring has sprung, and you realize it is only weeks until that highly-anticipated wedding, reunion, or vacation. Is it too late, you wonder, for some type of cosmetic procedure to look your best?

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to boost your appearance—and self-confidence—that don’t require a huge downtime. If you plan far enough ahead, you can time your procedures to maximize your results by a specific date. Consulting with a specialist can help you determine what you want, need, and have time for.

Some “Quick Fixes” to Consider

Fortunately there are many effective nonsurgical options that require minimal downtime. These procedures include:

• Botox or Dysport to smooth wrinkles on the face, including forehead lines and crow’s feet. (There is little to no downtime, bruising is unlikely but possible. Results can be seen in as little as a week.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Dermal Fillers to plump lips, enhance shallow contours, enhance facial volume, or smooth  wrinkles. (Generally, recovery is 2-7 days. Results are immediate but final results are seen in 10-14 days, after possible swelling resolves.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Chemical Peels to smooth and brighten skin, minimize pigmentation and address acne scars or fine lines and wrinkles. We offer the TCA and VI Peels. (Healing varies depending on the type and strength of the peel. VI Peel: peeling lasts around a week. TCA peel: takes 1-2 weeks to heal.) DO THIS AT LEAST 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Microneedling to improve appearance and texture of the skin, minimize acne scars. (Healing takes about 3-5 days; skin texture improves over weeks to months.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• CO2 Laser Resurfacing to rejuvenate wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and remove age spots and other blemishes. (Healing time for laser resurfacing varies, depending on the depth/intensity of the laser. Approximately 1-2 weeks of recovery time. Full results seen at 3-6 months.) DO THIS AT LEAST 6 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

Call us to schedule a consultation!! 949.200.1615

We have just published our first-ever print newsletter to showcase some of our favorite procedures and patients. You can take a look below!

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. 

Allergan (the maker of BOTOX and JUVEDERM) has just released a filler created specifically for the jawline. This ​​long-lasting filler is now available at aesthetic practices for patients over the age of 21 with moderate to severe loss of 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 chin and jawline.

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

All of our providers are expert injectors and can help you to assess your jawline and other aspects of facial aesthetics. Call us to schedule a consultation.

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the top of the lip. This increases the amount of pink lip tissue that’s visible, which makes the lips look fuller and more pronounced. It can also increase how much your upper center teeth show when your lips are resting. It leaves a small scar at the base of the nostrils, but it is usually undetectable after a few weeks.

It’s a good option for people who want to add height instead of volume to their lips. Younger people who haven’t achieved the look they want from fillers, or if they find that fillers make their lips look unnaturally plump or duck-like, may prefer a lip lift.

And a lip lift is a good option for reducing the space between the lips and the nose. With age, this space can increase and can make the upper lip look thinner.

 

Are you looking for a “snatched” jawline? Are you tired of pushing yourself at the gym but still seeing no changes to your double chin? You are not alone! A stubborn double chin or sometimes called extra submental fat may not be your fault.

Age, genetics, and lifestyle (i.e. diet and exercise) influence the size and stubbornness of a double chin. Achieving a tight and defined jawline depends on several factors including our chin position, amount of
submental fat, and neck skin sagging.

The Youthful Neck
A youthful neckline conveys a sense of health, confidence, and attractiveness. We associate a beautiful neckline with a strong chin and jawline that creates a natural and defined transition from the jaw to the neck.

Understanding the Double Chin
Not all double chins are the same. The double chin seen in younger patients (ages 20-30s) with fullness below the chin is typically due to stubborn, excess fat just below the level of the skin (i.e. pre-platysma fat). These individuals are great candidates for less invasive treatments such as fat dissolvers (i.e. Kybella), Submental Liposuction, and occasionally Isolated Deep Neck Contouring.

Sometimes, these individuals also have a smaller, weaker chin, which makes the “double chin” even more noticeable. For these patients, I like to augment the chin with either filler or a more permanent solution such as a chin implant.

If you’re struggling with a “double chin” but none of this applies to you, don’t worry! We’re only scratching the surface of double chins on this blog. Stay tuned for our next blog where I’ll discuss more advanced treatment options.

 

Dr. Simon Madorsky, facial plastic surgeon, addressed an audience of California Dermatologists at the CalDerm Symposium, September 23-25 in Carlsbad. He spoke on Fillers and Nuromuscular Toxins (such as Botox), providing advice and tips for these injectables, as well as explaining relevant facial anatomy.

He also spoke to the group about wound repair, including various skin flaps and grafts. These are used for both trauma and skin cancer reconstruction.

He had the chance to meet Dr. Sandra Lee, aka Dr. Pimple Popper!!

Dermal fillers, also called injectables, are a safe and effective way to enhance your appearance without the need for invasive surgery or downtime, but results are very dependent on the injector. At the Appearance Center, our providers are highly-trained medical professionals, familiar with the unique anatomy of the face, and have had extensive training and years of experience.

Dermal fillers can be used to address a variety of different cosmetic concerns – restoring lost volume to depleted areas, creating more attractive facial contours, and improving symmetry.

FIGHT THE SIGNS OF AGING

As the skin is subjected to elements over time, the appearance of a face changes. Dermal fillers reverse this by giving a person back the facial volume they may have lost. These fillers can also make the cheeks look more contoured, give a more defined jawline, and overall make a patient look refreshed.

One of the great things about dermal fillers is that virtually no recovery time is required. After their treatment session, patients can usually return to most activities right away.

More good news: The results of dermal fillers are not permanent. If you don’t love your results from dermal filler injections, take heart knowing the effects are temporary. 

Filler technology enables results to last six to 18 months although there is variation between individuals, as well as according to the type, quantity and depth of the dermal filler placed within your skin.

In many cases, a skilled cosmetic eye can make more immediate corrections or improve upon your previous results. Our providers are also experienced with correcting over-filling or wrong-site filling done at other locations.