woman-in-winter

What Happens to Your Facial Skin During Winter

Environment, Health Basics

As the temperature drops so does your skin’s ability to fend off the ravages of Mother Nature. Harsh winds and dry air remove the natural oils from your epidermis, making it dry and prone to irritation. The skin can become itchy and painful, and conditions like eczema and psoriasis can act up. Winter weather does its best to damage your skin, but there are several precautions you can take to lessen the most severe punishments doled out by these chilly months.

COVER UP

In addition to bundling your body with as many layers as possible, be sure to remember the most important layer: your skin. Whenever your bare flesh is exposed to the elements, they take their toll. By applying a moisturizer with the proper SPF, you multiply your skin’s defense against the weather. Even though sunblock is considered a summer accessory, SPF actually stands for “sun protection factor” – and the sun shines year round. “Protection” is the key word of the popular phrase/acronym, so protect yourself heartily this winter. And for the best defense, just add water…

STAY HYDRATED, INSIDE AND OUT

Water is the essential building block of all life, so any physician would agree that hydration is the key to great health. Stock up on H2O, but be wary of how you sip it. Drinking directly from a cup or bottle leaves watery residue on your lips. When that runoff evaporates, it draws your natural oils with it. This can result in chapped lips, which triggers a thirst for more water, creating a vicious cycle. Instead, you should drink from a straw and be sure to apply a petroleum-based salve on your lips at the first signs of chapping or chafing.

But it’s not enough to just imbibe water; you should also incorporate moisture into your daily routine and environment. Many people use humidifiers to “winterize” their homes. Ideally, the humidity should measure between 30 and 50 percent (this can be measured with a hygrometer). But external hydration has its limits, so don’t overdo it.

AVOID EXCESSIVE, HOT SHOWERS

While long, hot showers can feel like a welcome reprieve from the February climate, the heated water is harsh on your skin. Keep your bath time brief and use gentle soaps with moisturizing ingredients. After your shower, use a towel to pat dry. Rubbing with a rough cloth can irritate your skin. This rule also applies to the inner layers that you don when you get dressed, so avoid wools and polyester; the more contact these itchy fabrics have with your skin, the more they irritate it. Instead, wear breathable fabrics that are more conducive to the maintenance of healthy skin.

EXFOLIATE RESPONSIBLY

The dead cells accumulating on the surface of your skin can prevent the growth of healthier replacement cells, so exfoliation is vital to battling the winter blues. By removing these dead cells, you prevent them from clogging up your pores and worsening the irritation of the cold weather. You can exfoliate at home or get more thorough treatments from a cosmetic or plastic surgeon. At-home exfoliators can include jojoba scrubs, beads, fruit enzymes, and other treatments.

Alternately, you could opt for professional skin resurfacing treatment such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and microdermabrasion, or laser resurfacing treatments. Regardless of the type of exfoliation, be sure to moisturize well afterward, as the process strips your skin of its protective layer of oils.

REPLENISH YOUR SKIN

Once you’ve taken steps to protect your skin against further damage from the cold, you need to resupply your skin with the hydration that it has already lost. You should also apply ample moisturizers to both promote cell health and replace the protective barrier of your epidermis. Your moisturizer should be oil based rather than water based (rule of thumb: many moisturizers marketed as “night creams” are oil based), but be careful to use oils that won’t clog your pores, like mineral oil, primrose oil, avocado oil, or almond oil. Avoid shea oil and shea butter. Ideally, your moisturizer will contain humectants, which are ingredients that promote your skin’s natural hydration. Ingredients to seek out include glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids.

CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

To maximize your healthiest glow during the winter, be sure to visit a medical professional. A dermatologist can help you determine the best routine to ensure the health of your skin. Additionally, a plastic surgeon who specializes in facial cosmetic procedures can strategize the smartest ways to keep your skin looking its best the whole year through.

Based out of Los Angeles, Dr. William J. Binder is considered one of the world’s best plastic surgeons. He is double board certified, has been extensively published, and has 10 patents on various medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Give your skin the care and consideration it deserves, especially in the severe and stressful winter months. Contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule your consultation.

beauty-face-lift

Face and Neck Lifts: An Overview

Face Lifts, Procedure Overviews

As we age the face and neck begin to sag and crease, giving the neck, cheeks, and under eyes a droopy appearance; creating the illusion of a double chin, causing the neck muscles to band, and wrinkling under the eyes and from the corners of the mouth to the nose.

This happens to all of us, but the rate and age at which it happens varies from person to person based on genetics, gravity, environment, and stress, but rejuvenation procedures like facelifts and neck lifts can help to reverse this process.

There are many misconceptions about facelifts and neck lifts that cause people to be wary of them, the most common of which is that patients who undergo facelifts and neck lifts end up with a tight, “stretched,” and unnatural looking appearance. It is true that while, on occasion, old facelift and neck lift techniques could give these kind of results, this was rare.

Now, with new more effective techniques, artificial looking results are virtually unheard of, especially when the procedure is conducted by a highly skilled plastic surgeon.

About Facelift and Neck Lift Surgeries

Facelift surgery is used to correct signs of aging in the lower portion of the face; in the areas roughly level with the nose and mouth. In order to do so, a plastic surgeon begins incisions at the temple and continues down in front in the ear, below it, and then back behind the ear. The skin is then gently moved to tighten up sags and wrinkles. Excess skin and fat may be removed to create a smoother, more youthful final result. Incisions are closed with fine sutures or metal clips, allowing the surgeon to avoid shaving the incision site.

Neck lift surgery uses a similar process to tighten up sagging and correct muscle banding in the neck. Incisions for neck lifts begin similarly to those used for facelifts, going from the temple down in front of the ear, then curling below and behind the ear. For some neck lift procedures, these incisions may be all that’s needed and the skin can be repositioned. For others, additional incisions may be made below the jawline for further repositioning of the skin. Like with facelift surgery, excess skin and fat may also be removed. Incisions are closed with sutures.

Both procedures are performed under a combination of sedatives, general or mild intravenous anesthesia (“twilight sleep”), and local anesthesia. Incisions for both procedures are placed in natural contours of the face so that they are almost invisible once healed.

Which Lift is Right for Me?

Though facelifts and neck lifts can be performed individually if patients are happy with the appearance of their lower face or neck, but not the other, they can also be performed together. In fact, having both performed often gives better results. This is especially true if the procedures are conducted simultaneously as it allows the surgeon to take a more holistic approach and create a more unified appearance.

Many patients interested in facelift and neck lift surgeries claim that their physical appearance does not match their mental age. Good candidates for either a facelift or neck lift are unhappy with the aging appearance of the area in question, have no health issues that could impede healing or cause complications during surgery, do not smoke, and have optimistic and realistic expectations for what their surgery can achieve. While these procedures can reverse signs of aging, they do not stop the aging process altogether. Patients will continue to develop symptoms of aging.

Additional Procedures

Because facelifts don’t modify the entire face, other procedures are often performed in conjunction with face and neck lifts in order to tighten up the brow and eye areas, in addition to giving more dramatic and comprehensive results in general.

If the upper area of the face only needs minimal improvement, dermal fillers and skin resurfacing treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion can be used to correct minor wrinkles, scarring, under eye bags and dark circles, and discoloration. However, the effects of these treatments is temporary and they can’t rival the results of surgical treatments, though they can prolong the need for them. Non-surgical procedures can also serve as alternatives for patients whose health does not allow them to undergo surgery.

Additional surgeries can also be performed in conjunction with facelifts and neck lifts. For more significant revision of the upper part of the face, patients may want to consider blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow and forehead lifts, or a combination of these. Surgeries can also be used to enhance the results of facelifts and neck lifts. Facial liposuction and fat grafting can be used, especially on the neck, to remove fatty deposits and bags and relocate the fat to areas that have become sunken over time, such as the cheeks and under the eyes.

Facial implants and rhinoplasty can be used to provide additional augmentation to create a more pleasant appearance in general, rather than just correcting aging, or as reconstructive procedures following illness or an accident.

The Right Plastic Surgeon for Your Face or Neck Lift

Dr. William J. Binder is a double board certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgery specialist and one of the world’s leading plastic surgeons. His surgery is located in Beverly Hills. If you want your lift procedure performed by one of the best, don’t wait. Contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule your consultation so that you can start looking as young as you feel.

plastic-surgery-procedure

Looking after Your Face Post-Surgery

Health Basics

After plastic surgery, patients are usually excited to see their results, but it can be a little disconcerting when those results aren’t immediately apparent. Instead, they’re usually obscured by swelling and bruising. Fortunately, these symptoms usually fade within a few weeks, though this varies from procedure to procedure.

While the initial side effects of plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures can be discouraging, taking proper care of your skin during this time is essential for ensuring the best results. A healthy skin care regimen during healing reduces the amount of scarring and prevents the modification of your surgeon’s work, minimizing the likelihood of needing revision surgery later, such as for a nose that has set wrong after a rhinoplasty or skin that has relocated after a lift.

What to Expect After Your Procedure

Every procedure and every person is different, so each patient’s recovery is different, but there are some generalizations that can be made. Along with swelling and bruising, most patients will experience redness, sensitivity, tightness, and numbness, but the recovery process after invasive surgical procedures differs significantly from recovery after minimally invasive procedures.

Regardless of the type of procedure you’ve undergone, your doctor will likely prescribe or otherwise recommend medication. These may include oral pain relievers, antibiotics, or steroids, or topical antibiotics or steroids.

After Surgical Plastic Procedures

For invasive surgical procedures, these symptoms typically fade within a few weeks. You will often have to stay at the surgical center at least overnight. You will be sent home with the surgical site dressed in bandages, and will often also have to wear a pressure wrap to reduce swelling and help set the results. You will be impaired after your surgery, so you should have someone drive you home and on hand at home to help take care of you and your obligations while you heal.

After Skin Resurfacing and Minimally Invasive Procedures

For dermabrasion and other forms of skin resurfacing the above symptoms usually last for only one to two weeks, though the skin may continue to have some pinkness for four weeks or more. Patients may also experience some crustiness as the skin heals, which can be removed with a soft wash cloth wetted with warm water. Even injections can leave the skin with some pinkness and feeling sensitive. These procedures are typically outpatient procedures and you can often even return to work immediately following your procedure.

Pamper Your Skin

Regardless of the type of procedure you undergo, you need to baby your skin afterwards. Your skin will be particularly sensitive, so using sun protection and a heavy duty moisturizer is imperative for ensuring the best possible healing. However, talk to your doctor about what he recommends before applying any product to skin that has not yet fully healed.

Don’t apply cosmetics or other skin products to open wounds, unless your doctor specifically recommends it. After wounds have closed, cosmetics may be applied. Stick to thin layers of lightweight mineral formulas specifically made for sensitive skin. Use a green color corrector under concealer or foundation to counteract any red or pink tint to your skin. At the end of the day, wash off cosmetics and other products thoroughly with a gentle cleanser.

Choose the Best Doctor

The best thing you can do to make your recovery quicker and easier is choosing a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon. The best plastic surgeons know the most effective techniques and can make smaller incisions, so your procedure results in less trauma and therefore less need for later scar removal. It also makes it easier for your body to recover. The best surgeons can also give you the best possible possible recovery and care instructions, giving you better and more natural results with less risk of scarring or modifying results.

Dr. William J. Binder is a Los Angeles based facial plastic surgeon who is considered one of the world’s leading plastic surgeons. He is board certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, but Dr. Binder’s true passion is working with his patients. Contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule your consultation.

facial-mole

What to Do if You Think You Have a Cancerous Mole

Health Basics, Procedure Overviews

As we get older, our bodies change. Usually changes are just part of the aging process, but sometimes they can indicate serious health problems, like skin cancer. Fortunately, when discovered early, skin cancer is highly treatable. However, this also means that it’s important to regularly check yourself for possible skin cancer and to act as soon as possible if you notice something unusual.

Recognizing a Cancerous Moles

The first indicator of skin cancer is typically changes in the skin. This can be changes in the moles you already have or the development of what appears to be a new mole. Dermatologists recommend the ABCDEs test for screening one’s self for skin cancer in order to detect cancer as early as possible.

This test involves checking your moles for five different signs of skin cancer. If your moles show any of these signs, you may have skin cancer.

  • Asymmetry: If some part of the mole varies from the typical round shape of moles, the mole may be cancerous or precancerous.
  • Border: Benign moles have smooth, defined borders, but cancerous or precancerous moles may have uneven or unclear borders.
  • Color: While healthy moles are typically uniformly colored some shade of brown, cancerous moles are often inconsistently colored and may have red, white, or blue shades.
  • Diameter: Cancerous moles are typically larger than benign ones, which are usually smaller than a pencil eraser, about a quarter inch in diameter; but cancerous moles are often smaller than this when they are first detected.
  • Evolving: Benign moles typically remain the same throughout time, but cancerous or precancerous moles may be show change. If you’re not sure if your mole is changing or not, try regularly taking pictures so that you can compare its appearance over time.

If you notice any of these signs, contact a dermatologist who can examine your mole and determine if a biopsy is needed to test for skin cancer. If your doctor finds that you do have skin cancer, or a precancerous mole or growth, you will typically need to arrange for surgery to remove the cancer or precancer.

Mole Removal Surgery

The exact process of mole removal surgery is different for each patient, because each patient’s health and cancer growth is different, but most surgeries follow this basic pattern.

First, the patient is anesthetized, and then the actual removal occurs. Small cancer lesions typically require only a basic excision surgery. However, skin cancer can also reach deep into the skin without clear borders. If this is the case, surgeons typically use a surgical technique called Mohs micrographic surgery. This technique requires the removal of the cancer lesion and the surrounding tissue layer by layer, with each layer sent to the lab for testing for cancer cells. Layers continue to be removed until test results indicate that no more cancer cells are present.

Some patients, especially those with deeper cancer growths, may need reconstructive steps after their cancer is removed. All patients should plan on going back to their doctor later for additional tests to ensure that all traces of cancer are definitively gone.

Choosing the Right Surgeon for Your Procedure

When most people think of skin cancer removal they think of a dermatologist or oncologist; but for patients with facial skin cancer, a plastic surgeon is often the better choice. However, not just any plastic surgeon is qualified to perform skin cancer removal surgery. Patients should choose an experienced plastic surgeon who specializes in reconstructive facial plastic surgery.

Furthermore, it’s not just important to choose the right kind of doctor, it’s also important to choose the right individual doctor. Your surgeon is imperative in keeping you relaxed and confident during the process, from diagnosis to follow up, which can be very stressful for patients. Your surgeon should take the time to make sure you are comfortable and fully informed about the process.

Dr. William J. Binder

Skin cancer is a serious disease and you deserve the best possible surgeon to help you through the cancer removal process. If you’ve recently gotten a skin cancer diagnosis or are suspicious that you may have skin cancer, it’s better to act sooner rather than later. Contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule your consultation.

model-with-symmetrical-nose

The Essentials of Revision Rhinoplasty

rhinoplasty, Procedure Overviews

The nose is one of the more intricate and delicate parts of the body. It’s responsible for filtering, warming, and humidifying air before it gets to your lungs, not to mention our unique sense of smell. Part of what makes our nose so special is the fact that it is such a prominent component to our physical appearance.

It’s both the center of our face and crucial to our facial profile. Aesthetically, it contributes to the balance and proportions of our face that make us look the way we do. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean everyone is happy with theirs.

Rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty procedure helps to create a more symmetrical and well-balanced appearance by altering the shape and proportions of your nose. Part of what makes nose surgery so unique is its ability to both offer cosmetic solutions to those who desire an improved appearance, as well offering a solution to structural defects in the nose that can cause physical problems and difficulty breathing.

It’s this balance of cosmetic and function that makes the rhinoplasty procedure one of the most popular in the United States today. A successful rhinoplasty can help individuals who wish to alter the shape or position of their nostrils, reduce an enlarged nasal tip, get rid of unsightly bumps, or alter the width of their bridge.

Many patients wish to have the size of their nose reduced, in which case the appropriate amount of bone or cartilage is surgically removed, with the remainder being sculpted for symmetry. For physical problems, such as a deviated septum, a rhinoplasty can effectively straighten the nasal septum (the partition between the nostrils that separates the air chambers), allowing for drastically improved efficiency and ease of breathing.

While this all sounds well and good, unfortunately not all rhinoplasties are completed with satisfying results. Your nose may look differently than you were told it would or your surgery could’ve simply been ill-performed. Regrettably, surgeons with insufficient training and experience can produce undesirable outcomes that leave patients unhappy with their new appearance. Luckily, with advancements in cosmetic medicine, there is a solution to this.

Revision Rhinoplasty

The goal of a revision rhinoplasty is to repair and restore the original result an individual first desired when choosing to undergo corrective nose surgery. It’s not uncommon for patients to be unsatisfied with a “pinched” looking nose or one that is ultra-thin and artificial looking. Sometimes they only need slight adjustments, other times they require more significant alterations.

Either way, a revision rhinoplasty was created for this very reason. No surgeon can guarantee 100% satisfactory results every single time. This procedure allows patients to achieve this level of satisfaction by its uncanny ability to provide the finest of adjustments post-nose surgery.

During these surgeries, the structural integrity of your nose is reinforced and corrected, either for cosmetic purposes or to further improve the passage of air into the nose and lungs. Revision rhinoplasty has been on the rise over the last decade with about 10% of recipients who receive a regular rhinoplasty coming back for a revision.

With the state of medicine being where it is today, you should be able to receive the results you desire with great accuracy and excellent quality. This procedure aims to restore the structure of your nose, maintain its natural look, and correct any functional errors you may have. Done correctly, a revision rhinoplasty can reap the immeasurable benefits of enriched self-confidence and an improved physical appearance.

How to Get Started

Dr. Binder’s office in Beverly Hills is often considered the best option for correcting the most difficult problems in revision rhinoplasty. Our office is dedicated to establishing proper communication with prospective patients. Contact us today to   schedule a consultation for your revision rhinoplasty surgery in our Beverly Hills office.

plastic-surgery-age

The Practical and Aesthetic Benefits of Otoplasty

Procedure Overviews

The ears are one of the most subconsciously noticed features of the face. Commonly, the eyes, nose, and smile are among the first things observed when meeting someone. However, the ears play a crucial part in the overall balance of your face, effectively framing the rest of your features. Misshaped ears can be the result of a couple sources. Injury, genetic predisposition, or a poorly-performed previous ear surgery can all leave you with ears lacking the position, shape, or proportion that you desire.

An otoplasty is unique in its ability to be performed at almost any age. Protruding ears can be the subject of teasing and bullying in children who feel self-conscious about how they look. Ear surgery is usually more effective the earlier it is performed. Taking advantage of still-developing cartilage helps guarantee longer lasting results by reshaping the still-flexible ear tissue.

Even mild distortions of the ears can be damaging to your self-esteem, no matter your age. Social situations, being able to wear your hair certain ways, and being photographed are all things you should never have to worry about doing. A successful otoplasty with Dr. Binder’s plastic surgery in Beverly Hills aims to make your life easier by shaping or sculpting your ears to better balance your face, restore self-confidence, and allow you to not think twice about taking part in common, daily activities.

The Procedure

Corrective ear surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes no longer than two hours. For protruding ears, an incision is made behind the ear where cartilage is then sculpted and sutured to maintain the desired positioning.

Yet another special benefit to an otoplasty surgery is its ability to be combined with other cosmetic facial procedures. Many patients choose to include this in conjunction with rhinoplasties and facelifts. Although, most commonly, patients desire their ears to be “pinned back” to avoid protrusion, deformed or disproportionate ears can be reshaped or altered in size to better fit your face as a whole.

It is common to require a soft cast for the days following your procedure, but most post-surgical pain is minimal. The thin scar left from the incision is well hidden behind a natural crease of the ear.

Candidacy

Adults with no previous severe medical conditions and who generally lead a healthy life style are ideal candidates for this procedure. For children, it is generally recommended that they be at least 5 years or older, in relatively good health, able to follow instructions well, and are cooperative. With any candidate, having a thorough understanding of what you wish to change and realistic expectations only makes your procedure more rewarding.

How to Get Started

Dr. Binder’s cosmetic surgery in Beverly Hills is often considered the best option for solutions regarding the otoplasty procedure. Our office is dedicated to establishing proper communication with prospective patients. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for your revision rhinoplasty surgery in our Beverly Hills office.

male-facial-scar

Facial Scar Removal: Getting Rid of Unwanted Scars

Health Basics, Procedure Overviews

For the most part, a scar isn’t bad if it’s small or in a location that’s easy to conceal. But when it’s not, you may wonder if there’s a way to treat it, other than hiding it under your clothes, that will make it go away or at least change how it looks.

Here’s a look at some of the options available to you when it comes to reducing the appearance of those unwanted scars.

Scar Revision Surgery

Scar revision surgery is meant to minimize the scar so that it’s more consistent with your surrounding skin tone and texture.

Scars are visible signs that remain after a wound has healed. They are unavoidable results of injury or surgery, and their development can be unpredictable. Poor healing may contribute to scars that are obvious, unsightly or disfiguring.

Even a wound that heals well can result in a scar that affects your appearance. Scars may be raised or recessed; different in color or texture from surrounding healthy tissue; or particularly noticeable due to the size, shape, or location.

Although scar revision can provide a more pleasing cosmetic result or improve a scar that has healed poorly, a scar cannot be completely removed.

Scar revision treatments include:

  • Topical treatments—such as gels, tapes, or external compression can help in wound closure and healing, or to reduce the ability of skin to produce irregular pigment. These products may be used to treat existing surface scars and discoloration, and to aid in healing of scar revision procedures.
  • Injectable treatments—are often used to fill depressed or concave scars. Depending on the injectable substance used and your particular scar conditions, results may last from three months to several years. Therapy must be repeated to maintain results. One form of injection therapy uses steroidal-based compounds to reduce collagen formation and can alter the appearance, size, and texture of raised scar tissue.
  • Surface treatments—are most often used for cosmetic improvements of scars. These methods can soften surface irregularities and reduce uneven pigmentation. Surface treatments are a controlled means of either mechanically removing the top layers of skin or changing the nature of tissue.
    These treatment options include: dermabrasion (a mechanical polishing of the skin), laser or light therapy (causes changes to the surface of the skin that allow new, healthy skin to form at the scar site), chemical peel solutions (penetrate the skin’s surface to soften irregularities in texture and color), and skin bleaching agents (medications applied topically to lighten the skin).

Scar Removal: Home Remedies

The human body is capable of taking care of scars and they tend to get lighter with time, but there are some home remedies that you can try to speed up the healing process, including:

Aloe Vera—a natural scar removal remedy due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Apply aloe vera twice daily, but do not use on open wounds.

  1. Peel the outer green cover off an aloe vera leaf and scoop out the gel-like substance.
  2. Apply the gel on your scar and massage in circular motions.
  3. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then wash it off.

Olive Oil—is rich in vitamin E and helps keep the skin soft and moisturized. Repeat either of these remedies several times a day until you get the desired result.

  • Apply some warm extra-virgin olive oil to the affected area and massage using small, circular motions. Wait 30 minutes, then wipe off the oil with a clean cloth. You can also leave the oil on your skin overnight.
  • Another option is to mix a little lavender oil in some extra-virgin olive oil, apply it on the affected area and massage gently for a few minutes. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Lemon—can remove dead skin cells, promote the growth of new skin cells, and improve skin elasticity. Repeat this remedy once daily until the scar fades.

  1. Apply some lemon juice on the affected area.
  2. Wait 10 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

Honey—a natural moisturizer. Repeat this remedy daily before going to bed.

  1. Apply some honey over the scar, cover it with a bandage, and leave it on overnight.
  2. The next morning, wash it off with warm water.

Speak with Dr. Binder

If you decide that home remedies aren’t doing enough to fade your scars, then you should talk to Dr. Binder about the surgical scar removal options that might work best for you. With years of experience in his field, he as the expertise to help you make the right decision about how best to deal with your unwanted scars.

woman-with-healthy-winter-skin

9 Facial Skin Health Tips for Winter

Health Basics

Living in LA in the winter months is basically the same as living there in the summertime. At least where your skin is concerned. Most people tend to think that once the sun goes away a little, they can stop protecting their skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But the truth is that the sun never really goes away.

Winter skin care is just as important as summer skin care. Here are some tips on how you can properly look after your facial skin this winter, so that you can stay looking young and radiant.

9 Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

  1. Cleansing—is an important routine to be followed all throughout the year. In the winter time, you can limit the number of times you wash your face from three times to two times. You can also alternatively cleanse your face with cold milk and cotton balls to cut down on the excessive dryness.
  2. Scrubbing—avoid daily scrubbing as it may cause severe abrasion and make skin even drier. Try using a mild exfoliating scrub once or twice a week. You can also enhance your scrubbing experience by adding the following ingredients to make your innovative fruit scrub:
    1. 2 tbsp. mashed ripe banana
    2. 2 tbsp. of a mashed apple
    3. 1 tbsp. honey
    4. 2 dollops of your mild scrubMix all and go for gentle clockwise and counter-clockwise finer movements to scrub your face for two minutes; while washing off with warm water, ensure you pat dry with a soft towel.
  3. Toning—is a must for all those who have aging and sagging skin concerns. Otherwise you can leave your pores open in winter for more oil secretion.
  4. Moisturizing—is important for all skin types, not just those with very dry and flaky skin. You can indulge in natural moisturizing by using warm almond and extra virgin olive oil, and use it as a night massage routine. Alternatively, you can mix the oil with your normal cold cream and lotion, too.
  5. Face packs—there are hundreds of ingredients in your kitchen that can be highly effective to make your skin become soft and supple in the winter season. Here are a few that you can make use of:
    1. Avocado face pack—use mashed ripe avocado on face for about 10-15 minutes before washing off with warm water. Apply a light moisturizer instead of toner.
    2. Banana face mask—take 4 to 5 tbsp. of mashed ripe banana and massage it on the face. Wash off after 10 minutes then massage your face with honey, in circular motions, for that extra moisturizing feel. Do so for at least 10 minutes before applying toner.
    3. Butter milk pack—use malai or fresh butter milk with a pinch of turmeric, letting it sit on the face for about 10 minutes, and then wash off with lukewarm water.
    4. Aloe Vera—can be used on the face as a moisturizer. It is the perfect way to relieve your face from dryness, while enhancing the texture by making it softer.
  6. Keep hydrated—don’t forget that your skin needs hydration from the inside, out. A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time. Eating foods high in water content can also help hydrate your skin. Try watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, oranges, kiwi, and watery veggies like celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots.
  7. Sunscreen—isn’t just for the summertime. Winter sun—combined with snow glare—can still damaged your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside for a long time.
  8. Hook up the humidifier—central heating systems blast hot dry air throughout the home and office. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home so that they can help disperse moisture more evenly.
  9. Ban super hot baths—the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy.

Seek a Specialist

If you find that your skin isn’t looking the way that you want this winter, then you should consider seeking help from a professional. Book an appointment with Dr. Binder, so that he can help you figure out what surgical or non-surgical facial routine might work best for you.

woman-eyes-blepharoplasty

The Aesthetic and Health-Related Benefits of Blepharoplasty

Procedure Overviews

It is evident that plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures have aesthetic benefits, but many of these procedures can have impacts on the health of patients, as well. One such procedure is blepharoplasty.

Blepharoplasty, also called eyelid surgery or an eye lift, is a procedure that removes excess skin by removing and relocating soft tissue surrounding the eyes, including fat and even muscle, in order to improve the appearance or resolve health issues. This is a serious procedure that can involve major changes to the eye area, but recovering from the procedure is relatively easy and usually only takes one to two weeks.

Aesthetic Benefits of Blepharoplasty

Cosmetic blepharoplasty is most often thought of as an age-reversing and revitalizing procedure. This procedure reduces under eye bags, sagging upper lids, and puffiness surrounding the eyes. This opens up the appearance of the eyes and gives a more alert, awake, and youthful appearance. It can also sometimes remove wrinkles and creases resulting from bags, sagging, and puffiness, and can remove or minimize the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. However, blepharoplasty cannot remove crow’s feet or improve the appearance of dark circles that are due to thin skin or hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery can be performed alongside other procedures for a more comprehensive revitalization or to address aesthetic issues that blepharoplasty alone cannot resolve. Crow’s feet and other types of wrinkles can be addressed with lifts, such as face lifts and brow lifts, or injected dermal fillers, such as Botox. Skin resurfacing treatments, injected dermal fillers, and custom facial implants and reconstruction can be used to improve the appearance of dark circles due to hyperpigmentation and fill in shadowy hollows under the eyes.

Health Benefits of Blepharoplasty

People don’t typically think of plastic surgery as having health benefits, and blepharoplasty is typically performed for cosmetic reasons. However, blepharoplasty, like many plastic surgery procedures, has health benefits, as well. These benefits extend to both the mental and physical health of patients.

Patients seeking eyelid surgery for health reasons can also have the appearance of the eye area improved at the same time, and may be eligible to have insurance cover the cost of the procedure.

Mental Health Benefits

Many plastic surgeries can benefit patients’ mental health by improving their self-confidence, and eyelid surgery is no exception. Not all patients will see improved self-esteem from plastic surgery, but patients who are highly dissatisfied with a particular aspect of their appearance that can be addressed by the procedure and have realistic expectations can greatly benefit.

People with high self-esteem are less likely to experience mental health issues, such as eating disorders, anxiety, and depression, among others. They are also more likely to have socially healthy and fulfilling lives. They are able to foster healthier relationships, are more comfortable expressing themselves, and form healthy and realistic expectations for themselves and those around them.

Physical Health Benefits

The improvements to mental health can have implications for physical health, as well. Eating disorders take a toll on the body, weakening tissue and making the person more prone to illness. People with high self-esteem are also more likely to take care of themselves, such as by pursuing a healthy exercise routine and making other healthy choices.

However, these are not the only ways that blepharoplasty can improve the physical health of patients. Many people have excess sagging of the upper lid that leads to obstruction of the upper portion of their field of vision. This can be the result of aging, physical trauma, or illness. Eyelid surgery can help correct this vision obstruction by eliminating the excess skin and displaced tissue, clearing the field of vision.

Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is an experienced plastic surgeon based out of Los Angeles and is considered one of the world’s best plastic surgeons. He is double board certified, extensively published (largely in peer reviewed publications), and has 10 patents on medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Whatever your reason for choosing blepharoplasty, you deserve the best possible surgeon. Contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule your consultation with one of the best.

skin-pigmentation-changes-being-addressed

Skin Pigmentation Changes: What are the Causes?

Health Basics, Lifestyle

What Causes Skin Pigmentation to Change?

Aging affects our minds and bodies in a myriad of ways; some of these changes are monumental, but others are literally skin-deep. Over the years, our skin pigmentation naturally changes. These shifts may be merely superficial and aesthetic, but other permutations can be indicative of deeper health problems. The more you understand your skin tone, the better equipped you’ll be to fend off Father Time.

Sun

Sun exposure is the primary cause of pigmentation alteration. Unless you live underground, you can’t escape the rays of our closest star, nor would you want to. The sun provides us with much needed Vitamin D, which is absorbed through the skin and helps maintain the health of the skeletal system, various organs, and cell cycles. In small doses, the sun produces a gorgeous tan and cute freckles, but the long-term effects are less desirable. Sun exposure can cause the development of dark spots and keratosis, which can develop into skin cancer. A staggering 80% of instances of skin cancer appear on the face, head or neck; these are the exact areas that endure the most sun exposure. Skin cancer has serious implications for both your health and your appearance.

Skin Damage/Scar Tissue

A skinned knee might be nothing to cry about, but repetitive and persistent skin damage can have a permanent effect on your overall pigmentation landscape. We all suffer the occasional scrape, cut, pimple, or abrasion; these are the marks of a life fully lived. How we treat these injuries, however, ripples across our complexion for years to come. Scar tissue causes a lack of pigmentation, so the treatment of a wound is vitally important to minimize the damage before it sets in. Disinfecting a cut prevents infection and further complications; antibacterial salve is the front-line soldier in your war against scar tissue and further skin damage.

Disorders

In addition to sun exposure and skin damage, there are several disorders that can cause changes in the pigmentation of our skin, either permanently or temporarily. Some afflictions only affect your skin tone, but other changes in pigmentation are warning signs of a more insidious health issue. The skin is the largest organ in the human body; when it speaks, you should listen. Contact a doctor if you experience any unusual, unexpected, or unexplained changes in the pigmentation of your skin.

Melasma

Pregnant women undergo massive hormonal changes that often manifest themselves in skin tone transformations. This “mask of pregnancy” is clinically known as Melasma, aka chloasma. It’s a hyperpigmentation of the skin characterized by the development of brown epidermal splotches, particularly in the facial area. For some women these spots fade after pregnancy, but for others, the change in pigmentation is permanent. Men can also experience Melasma, though it is much less common for men than women. The condition can be treated with prescription creams or cosmetic treatments. Sun exposure can exacerbate this condition, so those who experience it should exercise extra precaution to avoid overexposure to UV rays.

Addison’s Disease

Addison’s disease, a disorder characterized by an underactive adrenal gland, is another (yet more rare) cause of hyperpigmentation. This disease is a serious health condition that can lead to impaired kidney function and dangerously low blood pressure. With proper treatment, however, most people with Addison’s disease are able to live a normal life. Addison’s disease affects only 1 in 100,000 people, but can strike at any age. One side effect of Addison’s disease is the development of dark splotches and freckles. These can appear anywhere on the body, including the gums, but are most common on places that get frequent sun exposure, like the face and hands.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is distinct from the aforementioned disorders in that it causes hypopigmentation, or the loss of pigmentation, rather than hyperpigmentation. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that causes white patches to appear across the body and/or face due to damage to the pigment-producing cells. Vitiligo cannot be cured, but the spots can be treated with laser treatments and corticosteroid creams.

Albinism

Our skin, hair, and even eyes are given their signature tone from melanin, a pigmentation agent produced by most human bodies. In rare cases of albinism, however, those affected produce little to no melanin. This may give skin a pale hue and make skin even more sensitive to the harmful effects of sunlight than most people. Albinism can undergo a subtle shift during the teen years, when pigmentation sometimes increases, but other cases never result in the melanin production present in the average human body.

Just as some ailments can cause changes in the skin, so can some treatments, such as certain antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, and antimalarial drugs, which can all cause hyperpigmentation.

Correcting Pigmentation Changes

Changes in skin color can be frustrating and visually unappealing, even if they aren’t associated with a larger issue. Fortunately, a cosmetic surgeon skilled in cosmetic skin treatments can help to minimize or even eliminate the appearance of discoloration.

Dr. William J. Binder is located in Los Angeles, but he is known the world over as one of the industry’s leading plastic surgeons. He has the skill and resources to not only evaluate and treat your pigmentation changes, but to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. If you’re sick of living with skin discoloration, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule a consultation.

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