Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular procedures for achieving a more youthful appearance.  These products are injected into the skin and will soften or even eliminate the look of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nose and mouth. Additionally, fillers can be used to add volume to the cheeks and lips— creating a more contoured look in the process.

While fillers are most commonly used to minimize laugh lines, crow’s feet and frown lines, as well as to plump up lips and cheeks, there are also the following ways that fillers can be used that most people aren’t aware of.

Recessed Scars

One good thing about scars is that they tell a story, but the bad thing is that they can make you feel self-conscious and embarrassed. Fillers can be used to temporarily alleviate the appearance of recessed scars by adding volume to the skin— creating a smoother texture in the process.

Facial Contour Deformities

If you have had a surgical procedure to correct facial deformities that were caused by accident or surgery, facial fillers can be used to help with creating natural looking contours across your face. By injecting fillers around your cheekbones, mouth, nose, and chin, fillers can help you temporarily eliminate facial imperfections.

What About BOTOX?

BOTOX is the most popular injectable available, but it is not a dermal filler.  BOTOX injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves so that wrinkles are less noticeable.  BOTOX is most commonly used to lift areas like eyebrows, eyes, and forehead.  There is no downtime with BOTOX, meaning you can resume your normal activities right away.  The effects last about three to four months, depending on what is being treated. BOTOX is also used for many other conditions including underarm sweating.

It’s important to realize that dermal fillers and BOTOX are medical procedures, not cosmetic treatments.   These should only be done by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is knowledgeable about injection techniques and product safety. Because there is a wide variety of different types of dermal fillers, and choosing the correct injection site is crucial, only your physician can recommend the specific strategy that will give you the results you are seeking. Dermal fillers are not appropriate for everyone and although the procedure is very safe, there are certain risks.  Your physician will do a complete medical history to make sure that you are a good candidate, explain the procedure in detail, and answer questions that you may have.

Although temporary, facial fillers provide solid results that can help treat some major areas of concern. The results are usually immediate and will last 6 months to over a year depending on the patient and the type of filler used.

Call Dr. Paige Holt at (309) 664-4444 to set up your consultation appointment today to see what service might be right for you and your specific concerns.

By Twin City Plastic Surgery

The term “plastic surgery” often brings to mind ongoing attempts, especially by the rich and famous, to turn back the hands of time and the effects aging has on the body, or to correct what nature never provided in the first place.

Technically, however, that thought is not quite accurate. In its broadest sense, plastic surgery refers to any medical procedure that alters or restores the form of the body. Under this wide umbrella fall many variations, including reconstructive, craniofacial, hand, and micro surgeries, as well as procedures to treat severe burns.

Cosmetic surgery, the most well-known of the plastic surgery types, is a sub-category of plastic surgery that includes a variety of elective procedures all aimed at improving a person’s appearance. But contrary to popular thought, it’s not only for the rich and famous, nor is it simply about vanity.

The physician and staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office work to improve the life of each patient, regardless of the reason they’ve walked through the door for treatment. And, as one patient shares, “they make it as easy as possible,” from providing education and information regarding the specifics of the procedure to the excellent skill and medical care during the procedure itself and the support and follow up during the recovery and post-surgical healing process.

“I never thought I’d do something like this,” says one of their patients. When a mass on her neck proved to be fatty tissue rather than a tumor, she felt relieved. But because the tissue grew only on one side, she felt more and more uncomfortable about it. “It was obvious, even though I tried to hide it as much as possible with scarves,” she explains. It was bothersome, and made her very self-conscious.

She finally reached the point that she needed to either live with it or do something about it. “I decided I could do nothing or do something…and I decided to do something.”

Although she’s very happy with the results, she emphasizes that the reason for her decision to have surgery to remove the mass was not simply based on vanity. “People tell me I look younger, but that’s an unexpected benefit. I still have wrinkles and crow’s feet—but now I’m not self-conscious about the mass, so I have a better outlook and am more confident. I think confidence has a huge effect on how you look.”

Additionally, she stresses that having the surgery was not a rash decision made in a fit of frustration. She did her homework, taking several months to research procedures and surgeons. She advises anyone who is considering this type of elective surgery to do the same. “I had heard about similar facial surgeries from others, and the staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office provided names of other patients who had had similar experiences. They [previous patients] can tell you what’s really going to happen. It is, after all, surgery—it’s not going to be a piece of cake. It’s really a pretty big deal.”

Another wise decision she made was to research the doctors. “I wanted to know their background, their education and credentials—I wanted an expert in the type of surgery I was going to have,” she says, because something as important as surgery deserves to have the best person performing it.

Elective, cosmetic surgery can certainly change how you look, but it’s important to be realistic about what surgery can and can’t do for you. Surgery is a big decision, but if you do your homework about the type of surgery you want, the surgeons, and the costs, it’s definitely something that can enhance your life.

“I didn’t want to look like a different person…I just wanted to take care of something that bothered me,” the patient explains. “And I’m glad I did.”

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery

Whether your goal is to correct fine lines and wrinkles, improve elasticity and firmness, even out skin tone and improve vibrancy, reduce enlarged pores, improve skin texture, lighten brown spots, or treat oily or congested skin, HydraFacial MD offers a treatment for you.

Katie Bertsche, the Spa Manager for Twin City Plastic Surgery and Oasis Medical Spa, is very excited about this newest skin care treatment available since the beginning of May. “Anyone who follows beauty blogs or wants to know the latest trends in the beauty industry has heard of HydraFacial. It is one of the most talked about treatments these days because it really works!”

The HydraFacial MD therapy uses the latest developments in skin care to clean, hydrate, and protect skin. The 3-step treatment cleanses, exfoliates, and extracts to get rid of impurities and dead skin cells, and infuses the skin with vital nutrients, antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to protect and nourish the skin from the inside out.

The HydraFacial MD’s three-step system can be completed in as little as a half hour. According to the HydraFacial website (hydrafacial.com), Step 1 cleanses and peels impurities thereby uncovering a new layer of skin with gentle exfoliation and relaxing resurfacing. Excess oil and debris is extracted from pores using painless suction in Step 2, then the skin is nourished with skin solutions to address specific skin concerns. Step 3 saturates the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides to fuse and protect, locking in all the beneficial serums included in the process.

“The benefit of the HydraFacial MD system over treatments such as microdermabrasion is that it can be used for any skin condition. Microdermabrasion can be harsh for some skin types, and only treats limited skin issues,” Katie explains. “This is safe enough to have a treatment every week, based on the goals for your skin concerns.” Another great benefit is that there is no downtime—clients can put on makeup and resume their normal activities immediately after a session.

A typical protocol would be for someone to come in every 4-6 weeks for preventive treatment. A basic treatment takes 30-40 minutes. Clients can request to have add-ons, or “boosters,” depending on the focus of the treatment.

The boosters that can be used during a treatment include Growth Factor, which minimizes fine lines and wrinkles; Britenol, brightener for pigmentation, sun spots, and improved radiance; and Dermabuilder, which minimizes signs of aging and recharges skin with a patented combination of peptides. Clarifying treatments for acne and red and blue LED light treatments that will decrease inflammation or redness in the skin and kill acne-causing bacteria respectively are also available.

To find out more about this amazing treatment or to schedule a consultation with our Aesthetician, Alyssa, please give us a call at (309) 662-6772.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.

By Linda Hankemeier

Char can see now see just fine through her Irish eyes after previous years of struggle due to heavy eyelids.

“I come from an Irish background,” shared Char. “Every nationality has some traits. Those of us who are Irish sometimes develop heavily-hooded eyelids over time.”

Upper and lower eyelids slowly change as we age. Skin stretches and becomes loose over time, sometimes to the point that your vision becomes blocked or appearance changes.

Char is one of about 200,000 people a year in the U.S. who opted for a surgical procedure called blepharoplasty, or an eyelid lift. While some people choose this procedure solely to improve appearance, Char and others find the eyelid lift is the only way to truly remove the vision obstruction created by their heavy eyelids.

An eyelid lift is one of the most common forms of plastic surgery in the U.S.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports it was the fourth most common plastic surgery procedure performed with 204,015 procedures completed in 2012 (most current year on record). And, eyelid changes impact both men and women: 14% of all blepharoplasty surgeries were performed on men that year.

“I looked tired all the time. People thought I wasn’t well rested even when I felt great,” Char lamented. “But more importantly, my eyelids were so heavy that I was constantly lifting my forehead muscles to keep my eyes as open as possible which gave me constant headaches.”

Eyelid lifts follow the same process steps as many other plastic surgery procedures. After the necessary pre-operative steps, the day of surgery arrives. The patient is given anesthesia and after the patient is sedated, the plastic surgeon marks the incision lines on the appropriate areas of the eye. Then, incisions are made either in the upper or lower lid, depending on the area needing to be addressed. If the upper lid is the focus, the incisions are made typically around the crease connecting the lid to the brow bone area. For the lower lid, the incision is typically made below the lash area. The additional skin is removed and the incisions are closed.

During recovery, the patient will have bruising and it will take time for the skin to heal. Char described her recovery as “uneventful.” In consultation with her surgeon, she used ointment on the incisions to keep the skin supple and regular application of ice and lots of rest to keep the swelling under control. Approximately five days after surgery, her sutures were removed. She also used makeup during this time to cover the bruising if she needed to go out in public.

The price of blepharoplasty can vary greatly, but there is a chance for at least the upper eyelid lift that it will be covered by insurance if the procedure is needed to correct a medical condition. If the eyelids are impacting a patient’s range of vision, he/she can work with an ophthalmologist to see if visual field testing shows the eyelids are contributing to reduction in vision; the lower eyelids, on the other hand, are normally considered a cosmetic procedure only and is not typically covered by insurance.   Char said she found her eyelid lift to be affordable overall. “People will say they can’t afford things. However, it’s just how you choose to spend your money,” Char commented. “We’ll spend thousands of dollars remodeling a kitchen or buying a car. My eyelid lift is something that makes me feel better, look better and see better.”

And almost two and a half years later Char continues to be pleased with the results of her eyelid lift. “My vision is so much better! I used to have to crank myself around in my seat when backing out of my driveway just to see everything. Now, I turn my head as others do.” Char commented. “I don’t have to use my forehead muscles to keep my eyes open all the time so the headaches are gone.”

Now, others can see Char’s Irish eyes a-smilin and know she feels great. “My eyes now match my energy: I look as upbeat as I feel,” she shares.

Call Dr. Paige Holt for a consultation at (309) 664-4444 if you deal with heavy eyelids that hinder your vision.

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery

There is nothing easy or simple about a cancer diagnosis. From the moment a patient hears the words “you have breast cancer,” she begins an exhausting schedule of medical appointments, treatments, and procedures. While much attention is given to treating the patient’s medical condition, she also needs support in thinking through her options impacting her health and appearance.

The vast majority of breast cancer diagnoses involve some type of surgical treatment with lumpectomies being more common in early-stage cancer situations. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 57 percent of women with early stage (Stage I or II) breast cancer have a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy and 36 percent have a full mastectomy, with others electing non-surgical options. Thirteen percent of women with late stage breast cancer (Stage III or IV) have a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy and 60 percent have a mastectomy.

The ACS also tells us 20 to 40 percent of women who undergo mastectomy have breast reconstruction which typically includes an implant, tissue from another part of the body, or a combination of the two.  Some types of reconstruction can begin during the mastecomy surgery itself, so having a reconstruction plan from the beginning of treatment is critical. Of course, some women are not candidates for lumpectomies due to the size or location of the tumor. But for a woman who has options, how does she make the decision to remove part or all of her breast?

Current data shows the type of surgery – lumpectomy or mastectomy – does not appear to impact a patient’s survival rate or possibility of cancer recurrence. Also, these surgical options do not impact the need and/or type of chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy a doctor recommends.

A lumpectomy almost always:

• Allows the patient to preserve more of their breast, which can give the patient comfort and an obvious feeling of normalcy.
• Involves a less extensive surgery in which the patient can go home the same day.
• Requires radiation as part of the therapy to treat the breast cancer.
• Does not involve placement of an implant.

Lumpectomy with radiation therapy (XRT) is becoming much more common versus a full mastectomy; from a breast conservation perspective and oncologic perspective, this is good. But there are some downsides to choosing lumpectomy/XRT that are rarely mentioned to the patient.

• Lumpectomies can result in uneven breasts which may not give the patient the look they hoped for.
• The defect may still leave a significant cosmetic concern, but any surgery to correct this may be considered cosmetic and be more difficult to get covered by insurance.
• Radiation treatments can cause adverse cosmetic changes such as darkening of the skin at the treatment site.
• Any surgery that is ever done on the radiated breast for the rest of that patient’s life is at a much higher risk for complications due to the radiation, and, therefore, limits the patient’s options for reconstructive surgery in the future.

The decision to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy is as individual and personal as a surgery can be. Each patient should talk with their plastic surgeon prior to making their final decision so they can be fully informed of the advantages and challenges of each option. As board-certified plastic surgeons, they have the education and experience to provide effective breast reconstruction consultations and provide patients peace of mind during a stressful time as they reclaim their life and body from this disease.