Nonsurgical-Treatments
At Appearance Center of Newport Beach, we offer a comprehensive range of skin care treatments designed to restore clarity, improve texture, and promote long-term skin health. Our physician-led team provides medically informed solutions—from targeted exfoliation to collagen-stimulating therapies—tailored to your skin’s unique needs. Whether you’re addressing aging, sun damage, acne, or overall complexion maintenance, our specialists create personalized treatment plans rooted in advanced dermatologic care. Explore our full selection of facial treatment options on our skin and face services page to discover how professional, results-driven skincare can elevate your natural radiance.
Alyssa Flanders specializes in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Many of you have already met her, whether for a skin check, acne treatment, or Botox and.CO₂ laser resurfacing. We are excited to celebrate her five year anniversary with us!
She is a graduate of Chapman University’s PA program, and is a nationally board-certified physician assistant. Outside of clinical practice, she continues her involvement with Chapman’s PA program. She assists in interviews, dermatology lectures, and precepting students.
During her time at the Appearance Center and SCARS Center, she has been mentored by facial plastic surgeons, an oculoplastic surgeon, and both cosmetic and skin cancer dermatologists. She has confidently created her own unique practice by blending the expertise and mentorship of each specialty.
Alyssa is passionate about aesthetic medicine, primarily because it helps patients boost their self-confidence. She emphasizes foundational skin care and resurfacing that improves the overall skin quality and protects against both aging and skin cancers. She loves developing long-term relationships with her patients and helping them to look and feel their best.
Just like any valuable investment, your skin deserves regular care to stay beautiful and natural for years to come. That’s where we come in. Brooke McGuckin is our Aesthetic Nurse with a lifelong passion for skin health and aesthetics. She has spent over six years in the field of dermatology, where her love for skin health and patient care truly flourished.
With a unique blend of clinical experience and artistic eye, Brooke specializes in both aesthetic treatments and surgical nursing.
What sets Brooke apart is her passion for being a part of her patients’ full skin journey. From the very first consultation to surgery and follow-up appointments, Brooke is there every step of the way. She finds immense fulfillment in managing patient care and helping them maintain healthy, radiant skin.
BROOKE SPECIALIZES IN
- Injectables (Botox & Filler, Facial Balancing)
- CO2 Laser Resurfacing
- Microneedling
- Vbeam Laser Treatment
- Chemical Peels – VI Peel & TCA Peel
- Hydrafacial
- Skincare / Product Recommendations
All of these procedures are performed in the office, with minimal or no pain, and a quick recovery.
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.
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.
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.
Are you noticing excess or loose skin around your eyes? When it comes to lifting and tightening the skin in this area, we have two approaches, one surgical and one done with a laser. Often our recommendation for optimal results is to combine the two.
SURGICAL APPROACH: BLEPHAROPLASTY
Blepharoplasty is intended to enhance the upper and/or lower lids, to create a more refreshed, youthful look. For the upper lid, the procedure involves making an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid, and then removing and reshaping the skin, muscle, and fat that deflate and droop with age and sun exposure.
Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelid. As people age, the tissue that holds the fat in place can loosen and the fat can protrude, giving the appearance of bags under the eyes. These bags can be repositioned and reshaped.
THE MAGIC OF CO2 LASER RESURFACING
CO2 laser resurfacing is an excellent way to tighten skin and reduce discoloration of the skin around the eyes.
This laser tightens minor excess skin on the eyelids, reduces of signs of aging in the eye area, and the completely renews the skin. And with the CO2 laser we can tailor treatment according to the nature and extent of photodamage, wrinkling, skin type and individual requirements for recovery time.
When considering a fractional CO2 laser for the eyes, remember that the effects can take up to 8-12 weeks to see, so plan accordingly!
This procedure can be done on its own or in conjunction with eyelid surgery.
Neurotoxins
Neurotoxins—like Botox and Dysport—are a nonsurgical form of wrinkle treatment that have minimal discomfort and quick recovery rates.
Most of us know that these injections can improve forehead lines, crows feet, and the vertical lines between the eyebrows. But did you know that these injections can also benefit the lower face, including the chin and overall face shape?
This graphic shows both cosmetic and therapeutic uses for neurotoxins:
- GUMMY SMILE: Some people’s upper lip elevates too far above their upper teeth when they smile, exposing a large portion of their gums. Botox can lower the upper lip to reduce the visibility of the gums.
- LIP FLIP: A lip flip is a popular procedure that makes your lips look fuller without increasing the volume of your lips.
- CHIN DIMPLING: Sometimes the chin can appear dimpled or bumpy. Neurotoxins can relax the muscles in the chin area to smooth out its appearance.
- DOWNTURNED SMILE: Injecting neurotoxins can weaken the muscles that pull down the mouth causing a downwards looking smile, or scowl.
- MASSETER PAIN RELIEF: Neurotoxins can be used to provide relief from the painful and uncomfortable symptoms of Bruxism. This condition causes involuntary teeth clenching, jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. Neurotoxin injections can reduce or eliminate these symptoms by relaxing the overactive masseter muscles. Additionally, when the masseter muscle is injected it can slim the overall look of the lower face.
Our team of expert injectors has extensive experience with facial injectables.
Non-Surgical Option: Are You a Fan of Fillers?
Do you wish your lips could be plumper or more balanced? Thanks to dermal fillers, this wish is easily granted. We offer products specifically formulated to enhance and augment the lips to your desired size and shape, or to correct asymmetry.
Juvederm: For Silkier, Smoother, Natural-Looking Lips
Juvederm products utilize hyaluronic acid to create instant volume in the exact way that your lips need it most. Juvederm Vollure is specially formulated with a balance of gel firmness and low cohesivity, which subtly adds volume. This means that it is firm enough to hold its shape, but malleable enough to move, making the results noticeable yet natural. It lasts up to 18 months.
Juvederm Ultra adds fullness to the lips, while Juvederm Volbella adds subtle volume and even softens the appearance of vertical lip lines. Both of these products last between six and 12 months.
You only need around 30 minutes for your dermal filler lip treatment.
A Surgical Option for Fuller, Lifted Lips
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.
SkinVive
We are offering a new product that is the first of its kind. SkinVive is often referred to as a “skin booster” rather than a filler since its job isn’t to rebuild volume like other fillers, but rather to hydrate your skin and give you a glowy look.SkinVive, developed by Juvederm and approved by the FDA in May, is now available to our patients. This new treatment can add long-term hydration to the skin and smoothness of the cheeks. These injections also stimulate collagen production, helping to correct lines and wrinkles while improving skin elasticity. Following treatment, skin quality is vastly improved with patients reporting skin that feels and appears more radiant and refreshed.
SkinVive is a minimally invasive treatment with little to no downtime. It works synergistically with other cosmetic treatments like Botox, lasers, and dermal fillers. SkinVive can easily be added to your Botox treatment and it takes only about 10-15 minutes.
How is SkinVive Unique?
Unlike traditional dermal fillers that replace lost volume or define facial features, SkinVive’s tiny microdroplets are injected near the skin’s surface, enhancing skin hydration and smoothness.
What are the Benefits of SkinVive?
- Improves skin smoothness
- Increases skin hydration from within
- Reduces lines and wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen production
- No downtime following treatment
What Facial Areas can be Treated with SkinVive?
SkinVive is currently FDA approved to improve skin smoothness of the cheeks.
How Does SkinVive Work?
Aging leads to a loss of collagen, elastin, and hydration, resulting in lines and wrinkles. SkinVive’s hyaluronic acid replenishes hydration and combats aging effects, leaving the skin plump and hydrated.
How Long Does SkinVive Last?
Most patients experience improved skin hydration and smoothness for up to six months. Individual results may vary based on skincare routines, genetics, and other treatments.
Is SkinVive Right for Me?
During your consultation, your provider will assess your aesthetic goals. If you suffer from dry skin, fine lines, or loss of elasticity, SkinVive could be an excellent choice.
Why Choose Appearance Center of Newport Beach?
• Comprehensive Medical & Surgical Facility – Our state-of-the-art clinic and onsite accredited surgery center provide unmatched privacy, convenience, and safety.
• Expert, Multispecialty Team – Board-certified facial plastic surgeons, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and oculoplastic specialists collaborate to deliver superior nonsurgical outcomes.
• Personalized, Natural-Looking Results – Every treatment is tailored to your aesthetic goals, facial anatomy, and lifestyle, ensuring enhancements that feel authentically you.
• Two Premier Locations – Serving patients throughout Orange County from our Newport Beach location.
Schedule a Consultation
Discover the path to your most confident self at the Appearance Center of Newport Beach, where our team of Board Certified Surgeons combines expertise in surgical and non-surgical procedures to create beautiful, natural results.