Chrysalis Cosmetics – Blog
Posted on August 6, 2010 in Facial Rejuvenation, Uncategorized, laser resurfacing
Sacramento California – One of the most beautiful aspects of a face is a smile. A smile makes one look beautiful, happy and inviting. Looking at the covers of magazines and Models in videos and TV we see smiling attractive faces! We often smile back – reflectively. It is amazing, try it sometime smile at someone and see if they don’t smile back.
Lip Lines Before Plastic Surgery
Lip Lines After Plastic Surgery
We have noticed that many people around the Sacramento area are enhancing their smiles with new whiter teeth and perfect lips. Seeing facial harmony in a smile with smooth skin, straight pretty teeth and full lips and cheeks can be quite beautiful. However if the skin doesn’t match the teeth it can look quite unnatural. You may have had this experience already seeing bright straight teeth framed by loose wrinkled thinned skin. The contrast can be quite overwhelming and distracting from the smile. Bright smooth skin and beautiful lips can compensate for less than white teeth however the opposite is usually not true.
What constitutes a beautiful smile is varied, however, classically it involves upper lip elevation, straight beautiful teeth, perhaps a little head tilt and some elevation of the cheeks with some widening and narrowing of the eyes and perhaps some nose crinkling with some brow descent. The key is that all the components match and some symmetry exists.
Aging can affect the smile, and the lips in particular are an extremely sensitive area. One of the aspects of age is thinning and loosening of the skin. Whether from sun damage, smoking or hyperactivity, this dermatohelosis occurs to some extent in all of us. We see this around the eyes – crow’s feet, between the eye brows – elevens, or around the mouth (the parenthesis defect) or even necklace lines. Around the lips this process often results in lip lines referred to as smoker’s lines. What makes the lips unique is their vigorous attachment to the underlying muscle. This muscle (The Orbicularis Oris) moves when we talk eat and pucker. The attachment of the skin to the muscle creates a valley as the skin thins and the loose skin creates a peak between the attachments as the thinning of dermis occurs and the elasticity of the skin decreases. With those who are thin with very active lips or for those with sun damage the lines will be more apparent.
One of the newer treatments we have added for the lips (perioral area) at Chrysalis Cosmetics is the buff and puff. The buff is the laser resurfacing and the puff is the Hyaluronic acid filler. Using injectable fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm we are able to puff the line up by filling the valley so to speak. The filler brings back that fullness and softness of youth and health. Using the Tunable Sciton Laser’s erbium beam we are able to soften the peak of the lip line and stimulate new brighter fresher skin to grow and fill in the valley and soften the peaks, buffing the irregularity. The laser can be tuned to your own personal skin type and wrinkles and go no deeper than necessary, virtually eliminating the risks for hypopigmentation once seen with CO2 lasers around the mouth.
Share your smile and if the lip lines are getting in the way let us help!
Posted on July 23, 2010 in liposuction
Full, round buttocks are often viewed as sign of beauty and vitality. Magazine covers and TV programs often emphasize the fuller buttocks. While Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons have been able to augment the breast they haven’t until recently been able to change the shape of the buttocks. The silicone implants didn’t give enough volume and often became hard or migrated out of place.
One of the great advances in plastic surgery over the past 20 years has been the advent of fat transfer. Following liposuction to collect the excess or unwanted fat cells they are then transferred from one area of the body to another. Structural fat transfer has become much more common and more reliable. With liposuction and fat transfer we can make the waist smaller and the buttocks rounder. This procedure often referred to as a Brazilian Buttock Lift. We like to refer to this as a buttock augmentation through structural fat transfer. The procedure is tailored to the individual characteristics and optimized for the individual’s goals. Recently we had one such person whom desired a rounder full buttocks. She had thought about this for years and finally decided to something about it. A transfer of 400 cc of fat from the abdomen to the buttocks was performed! These are her before and after photos. We are so excited for her. Her pant size has gone up by 2 sizes!
Before fat transfer to the buttocks and LiposuctionButtock augmentation
Posted on July 20, 2010 in Breast Augmentation
At Chrysalis Cosmetics, Dr Charles Perry a board certified plastic surgeon, and his staff are always evaluating new technology and devices to enhance or improve your experience and cosmetic surgery result. One of the recent additions to our plastic surgery office has been the Keller Funnel. The Funnel is used in cosmetic breast augmentation surgeries to enhance the result. The Funnel allows for a smaller incision size and requires less force to breast implant placement. The smooth funnel allows the full implant to be placed in the appropriate position with greater control as well in our hands. We use it most commonly for silicone gel implants placed through the axilla and for implants placed through the areola. We have seen less bruising and feel that it has decreased the postoperative discomfort, surgical time and may decrease the risk of surgical infection and capsular contracture however that remains to be seen as we have just started to use the device. We continue to evaluate our services and products lines, if there is something of interest please let us know.
Posted on June 30, 2010 in Fillers and Botox, Sacramento Plastic Surgery
Sacramento,California. With the hot weather and thin clothing worn in Sacramento, we tend to notice body sweat a little easier, especially this time of year. Sweat is a useful lubricant in the arms and does help increase the tactile friction for fine grip in the hands and feet, and excessive sweating may help with thermoregulation however it may be socially embarrassing. For many antiperspirant reduces the embarrassment of body order and excessive sweating, however for some this isn’t enough. In fact in larger studies 1 out of 100 people sweat excessively. Excessive sweating of the axilla, hands or soles of the feet often referred to as Hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating is socially embarrassing and psychologically disturbing especially for successful active people. (PRS: 110:222; 20002) (Primary hyperhidrosis has an unknown etiology while secondary hyperhdrosis can be due to antidepressants, hyperthyroidism, menopause, pheochromocytomas, and chronic infection and should be ruled out prior to treatment.)
If this is you or someone you know you may want to consider Botox or Dysport. It is amazing to see the difference after Botox treatment of hyperhidrosis. Plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons have been using Botox to treat crow’s feet and glabellar lines for years. Recently we have discovered that the chemodenervation of muscles of facial expression also reduces the sweat production as well. Selectively placed in certain areas of the body it can work wonders. No more sweaty palms and hand – shakes in the gym or the board room, no longer will you have to keep your arms to your sides. Botox as well as Dysport work well at decreasing the excessive sweat production found for affected individuals in the palms of the hands, armpits or axilla as well as the forehead or soles of the feet. You may be asking what are the downsides, well it does cost, and it requires a few needle pokes which can be painful in the ands and feet but seem to well tolerated in the axilla however the effects can last up to eight months in some studies. (Naumann, M., Flachenecker, P., Brocker, E. B., et al. Botulinum toxin for palmar hyperhidrosis. Lancet 349: 252, 1997.) For some their insurance may even covers the cost of the chemodenervation of the sweat glands. It is exciting to have such an easy fix to such an embarrassing problem. Previously treatment options included anticholinergic medicines that had many side effects such as dry mouth dizziness and constipation or chest/ thoracic surgery for thoracic sympathectomy and surgically removing the nerves to the armpits through liposuction. The best treatment for you should be decided between you and your physician or plastic surgeon. We look at best treatments as safe effective and inexpensive. Botox for hyperhydrosis seems to be an easy choice for the majority of people. For some Vaser liposuction done superficially may also be desirable. Have a great summer.
Posted on June 29, 2010 in Facial Rejuvenation
Plastic surgery is often safe even over the age of fifty
Sacramento
California. Recently on a trip home to visit grandma, I was asked about whether or not she could have a face or neck – lift. She is really bothered by the extra skin hanging down from her chin. When she looks in the mirror she sees an older women not what she feels on the inside. Now grandma is 83 years young and is currently dating. She is healthy other than her arthritis and her macular degeneration neither of which limit her activities. She takes the bus downtown and is very active in her community. She would be at low risk for anesthesia and a small procedure might improve her quality adjusted life years.
(The quality-adjusted life-year estimates the length and quality of extra years gained by a medical/surgical intervention. The concept is based on the experience of an individual’s health state over time, and each health state has a value attached to it. Health states have a value on a scale of 0.0 to 1.0, with 0.0 being dead and 1.0 being perfect health. An increasing value is equated with an increasing preference for a particular health state. This preference is referred to as a utility. Utilities can be obtained from quality-of-life assessment instruments, including visual analogue scales, the standard gamble, time-trade off, and multiattribute scales.) Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: April 2010 – Volume 125 – Issue 4 – pp 1279-1287
We are seeing a growing number women and men taking advantage of the plethora of many small and safe cosmetic enhancements available to enhance their appearance and their quality of life. In fact in data from ASAPS data in a survey of people across the United States over 12% of people aged 65 and older were thinking about having plastic surgery in the future. We often hear the comment, “I won’t care about how I look when I get old”. When I hear this I always think to myself when will I feel old?, in fact when are we old? For me old keeps changing and is usually a good 20-30 years off. I am not sure there is a good answer as appearances can be deceiving of the spirit inside a person. And from personal experience it seems that people all age at different rates.
From national data the American Society of Aesthetic Surgeons collects every year from Plastic Cosmetic Surgeons across the country we see that people over 50 do have cosmetic surgery procedures. ASAPS data collected in 2009 reveal that the the age group most likely to have aesthetic surgery is the 35 – 50 year old demographic ( 4.5 million surgeries, 43% of all surgeries). However, 34 % of all cosmetic surgeries were completed in the age group 51 and over with a full 7% of the total 12 million patients being in the over sixty five year old age group and older. And this was an increase of 2% in a down economic year over the previous year (ASAPS 2010). The top two surgical procedures for those over 65 were blepharoplasty 21,290 and facelift 18,198.
Most people do care about their appearance throughout their life. In fact, most of us will care about our appearance until we no longer can do anything about it. In a recent survey of plastic surgeons many are providing cosmetic services to those over 65 whom are healthy (ASA II or less and a BMI of < 31). The combination of healthier people over sixty and the minimally invasive cosmetic procedure options available (Botox, Blepharoplasty, Mini-Facelifts, Fillers and Laser Skin Resurfacing) allow us Plastic Surgeons to care for more and more people whom feel younger than they look. In fact last year alone over 607,054 patients over the age of sixty had a non-surgical cosmetic enhancement.
It is exciting that we are able to offer many different possible enhancements to those that desire an enhancement in the quality of their lives. For many 65 is the new 55 and remember to be healthy and happy this year.
Posted on June 1, 2010 in Uncategorized
Sacramento California. With summer right around the corner and with all the great outdoor activities planned we wanted you to provide you with another option to safely enjoy your activities while being protected from the sun’s ultra violet radiation. Over the last four years we have ben wearing swim shirts and hats made by Sunday Afternoons to protect our skin and our children’s skin from the abdundant UV radiation in the Sacramento Valley and throughout California.
Tahoe Hat
Sunday Afternoons offers hats and swim wear to protect you and your children’s skin form the harmful UV radiation. At Chrysalis Cosmetics we are excited to offer this product to you. Sun wear along with a skin care program can provide fresh skin through out the season. Most hats and clothes are 50 SPF (UPF)and protect you from both UV A and UV B. UV B rays cause sunburn, skin dryness, peeling, pigmentation spots, premature aging, and some types of skin cancer. UVA rays are related to premature aging, some types of skin cancers, and eye damage (macular degeneration and cataracts). Remember to protect you and your children’s skin this summer. We look forward to seeing you and assisting you with your plastic and cosmetic surgery needs as well as skin care.
*UPF: “Ultraviolet Protection Factor” is the international standard for rating UV resistance in fabrics and clothes. Over 98% of the UV rays are prevented from passing through a fabric with a rating of 40 – 50 UPF. The sun protective properties the Sunday Afternoon fabrics last for the life of the garment, and does not wash out.
Posted on May 21, 2010 in Ear lobe repair
Gauged earlobes can be repaired
In Sacramento California we have noticed an increase in large posts or hoops being sported in ears about town. Often eye catching and visually expressive in design and style, this fashion is often referred to as gauging. Gauging is the process by which you enlarge the pierced ear opening by increasing the thickness of the post size that goes through the opening. There are gauging devices that allow the skin around the opening to stretch and thin as grow through expansion. Jewelry grade stainless steel loops or plugs are often seen in the ear lobe opening. These are heavy and non-porous and helpful in the expansion process. This is a similar process that is used to grow skin for other uses such as burn reconstruction, baby’s tummies, and breast reconstruction. In some cultures tissue expansion is used to grow the lip, neck, and ears as well. Culture style and beauty are often related.
Once the ear lobe skin has been stretched it will respond by growing and making new skin. Once the ear lobe is at the desired size stylized wooden pegs or ornate plastic rings or plugs are often worn. These materials are lighter and do not continue the expansion or stretching process.
It is often easier to gauge up than down. It seems unlikely that once the ear skin has grown that it would shrink or dissolve spontaneously after a certain point for some individuals. Once the skin of the ear has been altered it becomes a permanent condition. In many this is great as you don’t have to worry about the opening closing.
If this is your ear or someone whom you know, the ear lobe can be closed or repaired. Gauged ears can be closed much like a torn ear lobe can be repaired. Through plastic surgery techniques the inside of the ear lobe skin is freshened and closed to opposing side. Often some excess skin is removed to keep the lobe looking normal and not droopy. Several stitches are required and a straight line scar is usually all that is left. The procedure is done in the office and requires about an hour to perform. The ear pictured here is an example of one such procedure one week after repair.
Gauged Earlobe repair
We are lucky to live in a culture that offers so many different styles and fashion ideals. Let us know if we can help.
Posted on May 12, 2010 in Breast Augmentation, Preparing for your Cosmetic Surgery
Karen Shares her Experience at Chrysalis Cosmetics with Breast Enhancement Surgery
Sacramento California. Once you’ve made the decision to take the plunge with breast augmentation or other plastic surgery procedure the next big decision is choosing your plastic surgery provider. Recently I was thinking about how one makes that decision. It can be a tough one and I imagine many do it more scientifically than I as I often find myself asking others whom they would recommend and then go on line to evaluate their presentation. It is interesting because I used to look in the Yellow pages for the biggest add or closest provider and evaluate them over the phone.
Our question was, “Is this what others do too?” So with interest we began asking people whom chose us for their plastic surgery needs how they came to their decision. The number one was reason was the internet and number two was friend referral followed by other paid advertizing such as radio and print. However it certainly varies. For most people they usually ask a friend whom they would recommend especially if they have had the same procedure done. Websites seem to be the other common place from where to choose your surgeon. Before and after photos of the procedure you are interested in can be reviewed so that you can personally evaluate the results. When doing this find someone with a similar build so that you can get a reasonable idea about what you might expect from a similar procedure. Also look at how many years experience they have and be sure that they are accredited by a reputable agency and plastic surgery board. Many surgeons are also including testimonials on their websites or Facebook accounts as well. These can be helpful however remember that these testimonials are usually only from people that are willing to do them and in general happy with their results. All of these methods are helpful and you will certainly develop a feel for the providers practice and a comfort level. You will be drawn to the one that you will feel most comfortable with in most cases it will be the right decision for you. There are other ways to choose as well, give us a call if we can help. Have a wonderful spring.
Posted on May 6, 2010 in In the Media, Laser Skin Enhancement
Sacramento California. Dr Charles Perry uses the Sciton Skin Tyte to enhance the skin of the body through collagen stimulation. We have used this for tummies, faces and necks as well as arms and buttocks. It can be a relaxing treatment and the results although subtle seem to be lasting and cumulative. It also enhances the results of liposuction and facelifts! For more check out the Doctors episode on today!
Chrysalis
SkinTyte to be featured on the Doctors “New Body Breakthroughs” segment this Thursday, May 6th, 2010. (check http://www.thedoctorstv.com/ for your local listings.)
Posted on May 3, 2010 in Current Events
Sacramento California, Chrysalis Cosmetics wishes a Very Happy Birthday to Taylor, Kathy and Lou. And a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms too! It is so exciting this time of year as we are celebrating birthdays, Mothers Day, May Day, and Cinco Day Mayo to name a few. This time of year we encourage everyone to drink plenty of water and remember their sunscreen! Have a great week.
Taylor celebrates another wonderful year!
