Are you confused by what you’ve heard about facelifts? Have you decided a facelift is right for you, but you’re not sure which option’s best? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery about the procedure. We hope the answers give you greater clarity about your treatment choices.
What is a facelift?
Technically called a “rhytidectomy,” a facelift is a surgical procedure that minimizes the signs of aging on your face and neck. The result is a more youthful and refreshed appearance. A good facelift performed by a skilled surgeon looks completely natural.
What happens during facelift surgery?
Depending on the areas your surgeon is correcting, they might use several different techniques during your facelift. After you’re anesthetized, incisions are usually made from your hairline around the temple down to the lower scalp. The surgeon then sculpts or removes fat, repositions underlying tissue, and lifts facial muscles. If you’re treating an aging neck, your procedure might also include a small incision under the chin. Once the facelift’s complete, the incisions are closed with skin adhesives or sutures.
What results can I expect from a facelift?
Because every person’s facial anatomy is unique, no two facelifts yield the same results. That said, their years of experience with diverse facial types make it possible for the surgeons at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery to accurately predict what results you can expect.
Are there risks involved when getting a facelift?
All surgical procedures come with risks, but serious complications following a facelift are extremely rare. As long as you work with a qualified plastic surgeon, your procedure should be a safe one.
Will I have scars after a facelift?
Yes, all facelifts involve scarring. But when the surgery is performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, the scars are hidden and barely noticeable. On the rare occasion a patient has more noticeable scars on their hairline or behind their ears, the surgeon can perform scar revision to minimize their appearance.
Is a Facelift Right For You?
While other options are available, surgical facelifts remain an excellent choice for people who want improved facial definition, smoother skin, and an overall younger appearance. They’re generally considered to still be one of the most effective ways to lift sagging facial tissue and eliminate sagging neck skin.
There’s no set age for who can and can’t get a facelift. What’s most important is that you’re in good health and have realistic expectations for your facelift results. The best way to determine if a facelift is right for you is to consult with a trusted facial plastic surgeon. To learn more or to get answers to any other questions you might have, contact Napa Solano Plastic Surgery today.
For people who want the benefits of more permanent solutions like face or neck lifts but without the surgery, injectables are a popular alternative. Treatments like Botox and Juvéderm are highly effective at minimizing or eliminating the appearance of wrinkles and restoring a more youthful appearance.
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery’s MediSpa provides safe and effective injectable services in a calm, secure, and comfortable environment. Our experienced healthcare professionals offer quality care designed to give you an amazing skin enhancement experience that maintains your well-being and vitality.
In addition to Botox and Juvéderm, we also offer Nova threads, Sculptra collagen, Restylane, and PRP or platelet rich plasma injections for collagen stimulation.
The Difference Between Botox and Juvéderm
When most people hear the phrase “cosmetic injections,” they tend to think of either Botox or Juvéderm, two dermal fillers that give excellent results. We’re often asked if one is better than the other. The answer depends on your individual needs, but the two treatments, both of which are FDA-approved injectables, do have some key differences.
Botox is a purified protein that relaxes the muscles that cause fine lines, wrinkles, and folds in your skin. It’s extremely effective at removing or reducing wrinkles in key areas, including around your eyes and on your forehead.
Juvéderm is a line of fillers that, unlike a relaxer like Botox, work by filling in grooves and lines to eliminate wrinkles and smooth the skin. We carry the full Juvéderm line, including Juvéderm Ultra, Juvéderm Ultra Plus, Juvéderm Vollure XC, Juvéderm Volbella XC, and Juvéderm Voluma XC.
The major difference between Botox and Juvéderm is the wrinkles they each work on. Botox is preferred to “expression lines” that develop as your skin ages, such as the ones that appear when you smile, squint, or frown. Juvéderm is best for wrinkles present when your face is at rest. It helps replenish areas where your skin’s volume has been lost due to age or another reason.
Another key difference is how long the two treatments last.
Botox’s results typically last between three and six months, but regular use may extend the results for more extended periods.
A single treatment of Juvéderm lasts from nine to 18 months, depending on the concentration of hyaluronic acid.
Choose Injectables for Natural and Long-Lasting Results
Injectable treatments at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery’s MediSpa are provided by our qualified aestheticians in all our safe and welcoming locations, including Napa, Vacaville, and Sonoma. To learn more about which injectable treatment is right for you or to schedule a skincare consultation, get in touch with us today.
Sun exposure, aging, and other factors can take a toll on anyone’s appearance. While a diligent at-home skincare routine can go a long way in restoring your skin’s smooth and glowing complexion, sometimes more advanced treatments are needed. That’s when in-spa treatments like chemical peels, waxing, and deep cleansing medical facials tailored to your specific needs and skin condition can help you look and feel your best.
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery’s MediSpa is medical skin care designed to give you the latest in cosmetic skin treatments in a comfortable and safe environment. Our menu of services provides exceptional, natural-looking results that help maintain your well-being and vibrancy.
Chemical Peel Services
VI Peel. Suitable for all skins types, our VI Peel provides dramatic results with no skin prep, little downtime, and virtually no pain. It’s a great option for clients who want to reduce or eliminate age spots, soften lines and wrinkles, reduce acne scars, and more.
MicroPeel. A three-step process that involves physical and chemical exfoliation, our MicroPeel uses glycolic acid to remove the pore-blocking layer of skin that keeps your skin from looking its freshest.
MicroPeel Plus. For a more effective exfoliation, this peel uses salicylic acid, which is known for its ability to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the skin renewal process.
Obagi Blue Peel Radiance. Obagi’s signature service, this peel uses a blend of lactic, salicylic, and glycolic acids to kill bacteria and brighten your skin.
Retinoic Acid Peel. A deep cleansing facial is followed by a 1% retinoic acid solution applied to your skin to stimulate collagen, exfoliate, and repair sun damage.
Melange Skin Brightening System. This medical-grade peel is safe for any skin type and includes a one-month supply of home care products.
Deep Cleansing Medical Facial
A deep cleansing facial is a fantastic way to let one of our aestheticians work their skin rejuvenation magic. Our medical facials focus on deep pore cleansing, extractions, and hydration using steam and a gentle enzyme mask.
Waxing Services
We offer a full range of waxing services, including eyebrows, lip, chin, bikini, underarms, and more. This is a terrific service for removing unwanted hair from areas of your body for an extended time.
Hand, Neck, and Decolletage Treatments
Many skin rejuvenation treatments rightfully focus on the face. Our relaxing hand, neck, and decolletage treatments are also helpful in mitigating and preventing the signs of aging which often first show up in these areas.
Ready For a Fresher Looking You?
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery’s MediSpa medical skincare services are provided by our qualified aestheticians in all three of our safe and welcoming locations. We’re also proud to offer our clients the full line of premium clinical skincare products from Obagi. To learn more about all of our services or to schedule a skincare consultation, get in touch with us today.
Skin resurfacing, fillers, and chemical peels are just a few of the ways to keep your skin looking its best. Some of our patients who desire a more youthful opt for facial plastic surgery procedures like face and neck lifts, chin augmentations, and midface lifts. Taking proper care of your skin once a procedure is complete can make an enormous difference in maintaining your new and vibrant appearance.
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery is proud to offer our clients premium clinical skincare products from Obagi formulated for a wide variety of skin types, conditions, and purposes.
Obagi! Skin Care Line
Obagi is famous for its Blue Brilliance™ Triple Acid Facial Peel, but the company’s full line of skincare systems and products can help anyone hoping to revitalize, enhance, and maintain beautiful facial skin for life.
Headquartered in Long Beach, CA, Obagi is a specialty pharmaceutical company that offers proprietary skin care systems in the physician-dispensed skin care market. Its clinically proven products are developed for the plastic surgery, dermatology, and related markets and are valued for their ability to minimize:
Skin damage
Premature aging
Sun damage
Hyperpigmentation
Signs and symptoms of rosacea
Obagi products include night creams, daily care foam cleansers, facial serums, therapeutic moisturizers and lotions, eye creams, and more.
Facial Plastic Surgery For a More Youthful Appearance
For more than 30 years, Obagi has been a leader in scientific innovation, developing scientifically proven, clinical-quality formulations that promote healthier skin and give people more confidence in their appearance.
Because Obagi products contain prescription-strength formulations, you can only purchase the systems through plastic surgeons, physicians, medical spas, and other medical and skincare professionals. We offer the full range of Ogabi products at our Napa Solano Plastic Surgery/Medi Spa locations in Napa, Vacaville, and Sonoma, as well as on our online store.
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery’s skilled and board-certified doctors have been providing plastic surgery care to Northern California patients for nearly 40 years. The safe and welcoming environments at all three of our locations ensure you get the personal attention and quality care you deserve.
Have questions or want to learn more? Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose a skincare regime that’s right for you. To request a consultation or ask a general question, get in touch with us today.
By age 50 about 85% of men experience balding. 21% of men have inherited male pattern baldness and begin seeing hair loss before age 21. The distress of loosing one’s hair has been obviated by society’s changing perceptions of male attractiveness. Look at movie stars Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Stratham; super athletes Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Kelly Slater; recording stars Pitbull, Moby, David Daughtry.
However, many if not most males would prefer to keep their hair. Currently, there’s no cure for male pattern baldness. Until recently hair systems, (toupees) were the mainstay of “hair restoration.” Medications like finasteride and minoxidil can help some, but not all men keep the hair they have.
More promising is PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, a non-surgical treatment used to reverse early male pattern baldness by stimulating new hair growth where functioning hair follicles remain. PRP, which is rich in growth factors, is harvested from the patient’s own blood. It is a safe well-tolerated treatment with no downtime. Periodic treatments are recommended. The PRP when delivered by micro-needling, a common procedure we do, can enhance the results.
Today the gold standard for hair restoration is surgical hair transplantation. First performed in the early 1950’s, hair transplants were done using the hair plug technique. The results were quite unnatural and gave hair transplantation a bad name; a reputation which persists in some people’s minds up to the present. In the 1990’s surgeons obtained remarkably improved results using a new technique called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Though many hair transplant surgeons continue to use FUT, we now have an advanced, minimally invasive method called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
Simply speaking, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) involves the use of “micro-grafts;” which are tiny grafts of skin taken from the back of the scalp each containing only one or two hair follicles. No scars are made in the donor area. Though grafts can be harvested manually, new technology allows graft harvesting to be semi-automated. The results can be very dramatic, and natural. It is the skilled surgeon who determines the best placement and orientation of the grafts to give the most optimal and natural result.
NeoGraft is a semi-automated hair transplant system which facilitates the harvesting of follicles during a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplantation. This is the technology that we at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery use. The automated harvesting system improves the accuracy and speed over the previously used manual extraction instruments. NeoGraft effectively combines advanced technology with the guided precision and artistry of a qualified surgeon.
85-95% of all implanted grafts are successful. Within 2 to 3 weeks, the transplanted hair will fall out, but new growth will occur in a few months. By 6 to 9 months 60% of new hair growth will have occurred. The process is complete at 12 months.
The procedures are done under local anesthesia with mild sedation. Patients find the experience easy and even pleasant. Patients may return to work in two days, and heavy vigorous activity in 3 weeks.
If you think hair translation is an option for you, or someone you know, we at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery would be happy to answer more questions.
You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you. ~ Carly Simon
Is it vanity that is driving increasing numbers of men to seek cosmetic surgery? After all, in the animal world it is the male peacock who sports the vivid tail feathers, the male lion who wears the splendid mane. I’ve seen a steady increase in men requesting facial rejuvenation surgery. I would argue that this drive to “look younger” is due less to vanity and due more to the desire to look refreshed – to look healthier and more vital. Most men accept that aging, and the accompanying changes in appearance are inevitable. Even though it is unfair, in our society men have many advantages, including the ability to avoid the “onus” of aging. In the movie world we see male actors in their 60’s, and even 70’s, playing romantic leads with women 30 years younger!
So while most men can accept looking older, no one in this competitive world wants to look worn out, worn down, less vital. They don’t want to look tired when they aren’t. They want their appearance to reflect the inner energy they feel. It really isn’t vanity. Looking “worn out” isn’t necessarily a characteristic of aging. Genetics plays a role – what we inherited from our parents. The environment plays a role – how one has treated themselves over the years; too much sunlight, smoking, weight gain.
One can inherit the tendency for “bags” under the eyes, drooping skin above the eyes, heavy brows with deep frown and forehead lines. With age we see the accumulation of loose skin and muscle of the neck and lower face. These features alone and in combination can give one that worn and weary look. These features can make us look older than we feel.
Elective cosmetic operations can be done to correct these unwanted features. The operations can be done alone or in combination. When contemplating elective cosmetic surgery, one is expected to be anxious. I spend considerable time with my patients before surgery to put them at ease. Though I reassure patients that the procedures are extremely safe, most patients are more worried that they may end up looking “unnatural,” like Kenny Rogers or Mickey Rourke. They are nervous that they will not look like themselves, that they will have an artificial look. Their fears are not unreasonable. If you Google “Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery,” you’ll see galleries full of scary results.
Giving patients a natural look is an important principle of rejuvenation surgery that I follow. I show prospective patients before and
after photos of our patients to reassure them that they will have a natural look. The gentleman in the photo has had rejuvenation surgery of the forehead, face, and neck. He also had a rhinoplasty (nose job.) He goal was to look younger, more relaxed, less intense.
Facial rejuvenation operations done by experienced board certified plastic surgeons are common and safe. Find a surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation surgery and ask to see before and after photos of typical patients. The operations are performed in a comfortable outpatient setting usually using sedation and local anesthesia to provide a peaceful anxiety free experience. Recuperation is quick, and pain during recovery is not an issue. Patients are happy.
