forehead lifts

Facial Facts: Forehead Lifts Are Sure to Raise Some Eyebrows

Posts, Face Lifts

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the forehead is its awning. Every emotion is amplified across your brow. When you worry, your frown lines tell the world. When you are surprised, the arch of your flesh alerts onlookers, and when you age, the skin along your forehead shows telltale signs in the form of sagging and drooping.

Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the human body. But just because collagen is abundant, that doesn’t mean it springs forth easily. In our younger years, cells regenerate more quickly than when we age. That explains why we require more time to heal from aches, pains, and injuries as we age. However, it also accounts for the proliferation of wrinkles.

Studies have shown how collagen production decreases in our advanced years. Not only does collagen not flow as freely in older individuals, but it also has more difficulty bonding with its surrounding cells. The effect of lowered collagen is essentially a breakdown in communication below the surface of our skin. The fine muscles and soft tissue that give our appearance the support it needs begin to falter.

Nowhere is this dynamic more apparent than on the face. Eyebrows do quite a bit of work, and their diligence is often rewarded with unsightly lines and wear. It is an unfortunate eventuality, but it does not need to persist.

HOW TO ADDRESS DROOPY FOREHEADS

If sagging skin and a generally loose complexion are inhibiting your looks, then a forehead lift may be just what the doctor ordered. By removing excess tissue and tightening the upper features of your face, your surgeon can truly transform your appearance from the top down.

Once the unwanted fat deposits and droopy skin are removed, the surgeon carefully and skillfully contours the forehead to a patient’s realistic and remarkable specifications. The incisions are sutured closed artfully to create an aesthetic masterpiece.

A LIFT TAILORED TO YOUR LOOK

Speaking of incisions, the placement of yours is key to the cosmetic success of a forehead lift. The surgeon will assess your hairline, listen to your aesthetic goals, and determine the best course of action for you. For example, if your coif is encroaching on your brow, then you may want your forehead to be extended upward. This creates a more alert appearance and reverses any issues you may have with a compact brow.

On the other hand, some patients complain of an oversized forehead. In these cases, the incision must respect the contours of the face and bring the hairline and the brow together harmoniously.

To get a detailed picture of your physiology, we may use an endoscopic approach to the brow lift procedure. By inserting a tiny camera through the gentle incision along your hairline, we can map out the tissue lining the upper face. This guides us forward, informing our surgical team where to focus our efforts to most effectively and beautifully lift your look.

HOW INVASIVE IS A FOREHEAD LIFT?

The benefits of a forehead lift are tremendous, but the process does not need to be as extensive as other cosmetic procedures. A full face and/or neck lift is ideal for patients seeking a holistic approach to the sagging effects of time. These procedures pull back sagging jowls, smoothes out the wrinkles around the temples, and generally perks up your appearance.

A forehead lift, however, is less invasive. It may be the perfect solution for younger patients who struggle with the drooping and sagging that are often localized along the brow. In fact, Dr. Binder has pioneered the “natural look” temporal lift technique. This targets the outer edges of the forehead, gently raising them so as not to hike the central brow higher in an obvious manner.

A temporal forehead lift from Dr. Binder prevents the unwanted “surprised” expression that bothers some patients. He wants you to enjoy the natural expressions that your face makes so brilliantly without getting in its way.

BROW LIFT RECOVERY TIME

In addition to providing his patients an aesthetic boost, Dr. Binder is dedicated to helping them get back to their daily lives. Recovery from forehead lift surgery is relatively speedy. Dr. Binder’s expert skills minimize bruising and swelling, so most patients can get back to work (and play) in about two or three days.

You will be invited back to our Beverly Hills office for a follow-up visit approximately ten days after your procedure. The doctor will remove your sutures and assess your progress.

COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATE PROCEDURES

Dr. Binder is passionate about aesthetics. He believes in unleashing your best self, and wants to work with you to define how that process should proceed. If a forehead lift is not the best remedy for your concerns, then Dr. Binder will let you know. Instead, there may be a number of alternative approaches that we can pursue to ignite your inner glow.

For example, there are two major forces of nature that contribute to the wrinkles on the upper face: gravity and deterioration. As collagen production decreases, the soft tissue below the skin gets less support. This creates gaps along the face. When the skin above these gaps interact with gravity, it sags and puckers.

Dr. Binder and his associates can fill those gaps with a dermal injection. Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm plump the skin and perk up your perspective! And if the muscles traversing your face have contracted to create frown lines and worry creases, then Dr. Binder can relax your face with the help of a Botox strategy customized to your look.

Regardless of which approach works best for you, Dr. Binder is the best copilot for your aesthetic journey. Contact his office and buckle up for a brighter tomorrow!

Positive Life Changes With Plastic Surgery For Women Over 50

Lifestyle, Motivation, Facial Liposuction, Face Lifts, Botox, Skin Treatment

The benefits of facial surgery are more than just skin deep. Of course, there are aesthetic enhancements to these procedures, like the fact that an improved outlook often garners increased visibility from others. Once you are truly seen, then your self-esteem inevitably swells, thus adding to your overall sense of worth.

It’s an upward spiral, especially for women over the age of 50.

As you enter the next phase of your maturity, you take control of your look and your legacy. But the superficial and social ramifications of plastic surgery are merely the most obvious positives outcomes. There are a host of other residual benefits that result from a smart and successful cosmetic strategy for women over 50.

Empowerment

It’s the oldest cliché in the proverbial book: when you look good, you feel good. But there’s a reason why some adages become clichés; it’s because they have a streak of truth running through them.

Case in point: one groundbreaking study indicates that the way you perceive your golden years can actually extend them. Respondents were surveyed over a span of 23 years to gather their opinions on aging, wellness, and happiness. The individuals who had a negative outlook toward getting older tended to succumb to the ravages of age more quickly than those with a more positive disposition. In fact, the optimists in the study lived an average of seven and a half years longer than the more pessimistic group.

It’s a matter of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you dread something, then that something will become more dreadful to you, but if you face your fears, you might be able to overcome them.

Plastic surgery is the ultimate way to confront your feelings about age. When you turn 50, it’s a chance to reassess your values, your goals, and your approach to the outside world. Are you on the right track? What’s your next big move? And what are you doing to treat yourself?

By empowering yourself to grow more independent, you never really grow old.

Confidence Yields Results

Gaining a spring in your step is beneficial for more than just your inner sense of joy. Confidence pays dividends in the workplace. Employers look for a team with energy, professionalism and, yes, confidence – in fact, those are the three traits cited most often by bosses when they are seeking new employees. A decisive 61% of those surveyed ranked confidence as an essential factor in someone they are considering for a potential job.

In other words, by looking the part, you might just get the part.

It’s important to give yourself every advantage you possibly can, especially in the cutthroat corporate world of today. As it stands, women only earn 80.5 cents on the dollar when compared to men’s salaries. This wage gap is unacceptable, and we should all work together to overcome it by any means necessary. A boost in your confidence might just be another tool in our collective toolbox when it comes to conquering gender inequities, one job at a time.

Defying Ageism

Now let’s transition from the wage gap to the age gap. Another factor that affects income levels and overall workplace satisfaction is the maturity of a given group of employees. Americans are working later and later into their lives. Statistics show that the percentage of workers over the age of 65 rose from 12% in 2000 to almost 17% today.

But as workplace age demographics rise, so too do incidents of ageism.

About half of workers over 50 were laid off from their full-time jobs before they were ready to leave them. Of these newly unemployed individuals, only about 10% were able to find a new job that paid the same or more than the one they had just left.

Don’t be a statistic. Take control of your destiny by transcending age and focusing on the ageless. Your beauty is an asset that conveys your strength, wisdom, and commitment. Any employer would be lucky to have you, so don’t be afraid to put your best face forward.

Psychological Benefits

As we get more mature, our psychology also changes. We reflect on our life experience and draw lessons, triumphs, and regrets from years gone by.

We might also accumulate reserves of anxiety and depression as a result.

Turning 50 presents an especially pointed occasion to assess our life’s trajectory. For some, it may be a welcome meditation, but for others it’s daunting. If psychological distress sets in, be sure to consult a trained professional, but also consider the benefits that facial surgery could offer.

One report indicates that cosmetic procedures could actually alleviate the need for antidepressants in some patients. A group of 61 research participants admitted to taking such prescription meds before their plastic surgery, but that number dropped to 42 just six months after their successful procedures. In other words, almost one-third of the study no longer reported the need for antidepressants after undergoing cosmetic surgery.

The Ripple Effect

As you get older, your social circles expand. You have loved ones far and wide, class reunions filled with familiar faces, and a family that loves you no matter what.

By enhancing your own sense of beauty and assuredness, you are sharing your best self with those around you. Your acquaintances will notice your renewed confidence and appreciate the fact that you take pride in yourself then, now, and forever.

Turning 50 can be inspiring. Harness everything that’s great about yourself and don’t be afraid to try something new. Whatever your cosmetic curiosities or ambitions may be, we want to hear all about them. Contact us today and together, we’ll make 60 the new 50.

Western vs. Eastern Beauty Standards in Plastic Surgery

Lifestyle, rhinoplasty, Facial Liposuction, Face Lifts

Our world gets smaller every day. Trends spread across cyberspace at the speed of information, and there are no boundaries when it comes to style, beauty, and appreciation.

And yet we still have inherent cultural differences.

Some aesthetics have been ingrained in our respective societies for centuries on end, and that won’t change with the simple click of an Instagram post. We can, however, break down the barriers of our cosmetic discrepancies by illuminating how we differ and how we’re all striving to be the best we can be.

Western norms and Eastern ideals may have varied appearances at first glance, but when you look closer, you can see how each standard is intrinsically beautiful. We want to illuminate a few of the cardinal features of each approach to illustrate how you can achieve your desired look, no matter which side of the Pacific you find yourself inhabiting.

Nose

While aesthetics don’t always translate from continent to continent, confidence is recognized around the world. For millennia, the western world has opined about the “Roman” nose: a strong, dominant feature conveying strength and assuredness.

However, Asian noses tend to take on a different arc, thanks in part to societal expectations and traditions. According to one reporter’s account, perceptions of how a person is accepted and how he or she will fare in life are traced directly back to the shape of the nose. While her anecdotal evidence is not intended to apply to an entire culture or people, it is indicative of how the Asian plastic surgery industry admires different qualities in facial construction.

For example, the button nose is often desired over a more protruding version. In fact, some Korean clinics actually advertise a sharp, doll-shaped rhinoplasty procedure for patients seeking that cute, compact look.

Forehead

According to recent statistics, rhytidectomy (facelift) operations are on the rise in Asian nations. These procedures help correct nasolabial wrinkling as the forehead is lifted without creating a dramatic protrusion in the jawline (see below – petite facial features are all the rage in many Eastern circles).

While cosmetic surgery in the Americas often focuses on removing excess baggage from under the eyes, doctors in Asia receive different requests. Residents of South Korea sometimes complain about the preponderance of a “monolid” – meaning that they want their faces to have two distinct eyelids to give their faces more definition.

Perhaps this is what contributes to the fact that SK ranks #1 in the number of plastic surgery procedures worldwide. The peninsula recorded almost a million procedures in 2014, which equates to 20 operations per 1,000 citizens that year alone.

Jawline

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder… but it’s even more complicated than that. When we extrapolate outward, we realize that identity is affected by our immediate family, our local community, and our national profile writ large. What is considered “beautiful” will range depending on where you live and in what era you find yourself.

Case in point: South Korea. Social norms have determined that having a small head is more pleasing to the eye than a large one. To appear more diminutive, some Koreans are having their jawlines slimmed into a V-shape. This look can be achieved by realigning and resetting the jawbone completely or simply shaving it down surgically.

Many Asian nations have also pioneered the use of Botox to soften the jawline and reduce its severity. This is another method by which cosmetic surgery helps contour the human face and draw the viewer’s eyes to the areas you want them to notice first.

But you don’t need to travel thousands of miles to get the Seoul jaw treatment; overseas treks are expensive, and surgery requires the stability and comfort of home. In short, it’s best to research globally, but act locally. That’s why Doctor Binder prides himself on being proficient in various worldly disciplines while providing the safety and convenience of a clinic right here in Beverly Hills.

Cheeks

Speaking of the LA aesthetic, Southern California beauty ideals often emphasize high cheekbones and angular faces. However, our Asian cosmetician counterparts downplay such ostentatious displays and bulky facial presentations. Rather than going for that Angelina Jolie look, many Easterners opt for a more subdued, subtle silhouette.

Cheekbone surgery allows patients the flexibility of reducing the wideness of their face by diminishing the size and contours of their aforementioned cheekbones. A series of incisions, administered in the mouth, give surgeons access to the skeletal system without creating unsightly scarring on the exterior of the face.

Juxtapose this approach with a more Western-style cheek augmentation. Rather than shaving down the apples of the face, many American patients prefer to plump them up. This look can be achieved with an implant that typically only takes about an hour to properly situate. Combined with facial sculpting procedures, a cheek augmentation helps your profile stand out proudly and firmly.

The generalizations laid out above are merely meant to take the temperature of different cultures as a whole. While the trend in Asian countries may be a tighter, more delicate face, that doesn’t apply to all clients by any means. And this aesthetic may be just what a patient in the United States is hoping to achieve, regardless of ethnic background or national identity.

No matter what your preference may be, Doctor Binder has the expertise to bring your exotic/modest/worldly/understated cosmetic goals to reality. So, check your passport and check us out!

SnapChat Filters and Cosmetic Surgery – A Frightening New Trend

Lifestyle, Motivation, Face Lifts

Pop quiz: when was the last time you checked your social media feed? Was it an hour ago? Yesterday? Are you on it right now?

Let’s face it: we are social animals, and our media consumption reflects this reality. We want to project the best version of ourselves to the world… and it never hurts to get some “likes” along the way.

But have we put too much emphasis on our online personae? And what happens when we can’t look like the digital versions of ourselves in real life?

Here are a few points to consider before scheduling your consultation with a trusted medical professional…

Facing the Numbers

We’ve already established our love for social media, but how far are we willing to go to look Insta-perfect? Users by the millions have sought out filter apps to clear away every blemish and impurity, creating a pristine (yet unrealistic) version of your visage. The overall intention might be a fantasy, but the demand is real. Since 2013, two apps, in particular, Facetune and its free(ish) sequel Facetune 2, have racked up over 50 million downloads.

And that’s just one snapshot in the proverbial scrapbook. Every social media app offers image enhancement in some form, whether they offer to brighten your face or shroud it in a seductive blur.  Regardless of which app you’re rocking, it’s having an impact on the greater online landscape.

A reported 91 percent of teenagers who have one or more social media accounts use those platforms to post selfies. From that same survey, users who routinely manipulated their photos with one of the so-called beautifying apps also registered higher incidences of body issues and eating disorders.

This is a staggering and dangerous reality, especially when you consider the fact that over 2.6 billion people have a social media footprint. The Earth’s population as a whole is only 7.5 billion, so over a third of us are firmly entrenched in the Twittersphere, the Instaverse, and the Faceworld.

Maybe it’s time we visit reality for a change.

Snapchat Dysmorphia

Our collective obsession with our digital doppelgangers (ourselves) is beginning to have a profound effect on our psychological health. Experts have discovered a new and disturbing phenomenon that they coined “Snapchat dysmorphia” – this is an overwhelming and skewed feeling that something about their appearance just isn’t right.

The insecurity (or insecurities, plural) consumes the afflicted until they may take drastic measures. One such course of action would be ill-advised cosmetic surgery to look more like your idealized social media self.

True professionals in the field will warn against such a decision. It’s impossible to replicate an inorganic, and in some ways cartoonish, version of your face and/or body. If you have convinced yourself that plastic surgery is the only way to realize your dream of becoming a filtered, animated, virtual vision of yourself, then you may already be experiencing some of the symptoms of Snapchat dysmorphia.

Heed the Warning Signs

Body dysmorphia is a psychological condition that prompts you to hyper-focus on your looks, or a facet of your looks, to the point of obsession. Your behavior, mood, and general appearance begin to wrap around the object of your distraction and can become a major source of anxiety and depression.

If you exhibit one or more of the following symptoms, then you should consider consulting a psychiatric professional:

  • Preoccupation: Dysmorphia distorts your perception of reality. If you think your nose is too big, it will become positively enormous in your opinion. You will then become preoccupied with your nose, adjusting your makeup and hairstyle, for example.
  • Diet and Sleep Habits: If you can’t achieve your idealized self through clever online apps, you might resort to drastic weight loss schemes. This could have a detrimental ripple effect on your sleeping habits, causing insomnia and restlessness during the day. When you don’t sleep well, you don’t think clearly, thus exacerbating the dysmorphia you’re feeling even further. It becomes an endless and vicious cycle of insecurity and helplessness.
  • Social Behavior: Once you have convinced yourself that your face is flawed, you will increasingly steer every conversation to this topic. If you find yourself asking what others think of your facial features, or ponder what their opinions may be, then this is a sure sign of dysmorphia.
  • Withdrawal: The extreme ramifications of the aforementioned shift in social behavior is a complete and total disconnect. If you cancel engagements, make excuses, and generally alienate yourself from loved ones because of your perceived flaw(s), then you’re allowing dysmorphia to control your life.
  • Digital Delusion: If the above withdrawal from society begins to occur, you may find yourself living more and more in a social media fantasy. Your filters become your closest friends, and you would rather post on social media than actually being social. This is the current manifestation of dysmorphia, and it is affecting more and more of us as technology rules our daily lives.

Break the Cycle

Social media is like a warped mirror. It shows us some of what we want to see, but it may not be the full picture (nor is it accurate). Do you want to know what’s better? An actual mirror!

Look at yourself and see how great you really are. Sure, we all want to be prettier or thinner or more toned, but those are ideals that we must attain in real life, not through some digital app. Set attainable goals and only then will you be able to achieve them. By communicating your cosmetic desires to a trained professional, we can work together to make your dreams come true.

But it won’t be in cyberspace; it will be in the comfort and security of one of our facilities. They’re located firmly in the real world, and they’re welcoming you for a consultation now.

History of Facial Rejuvenation

Lifestyle, Face Lifts

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a facial rejuvenation surgery performed by a licensed cosmetic surgeon in order to restore a youthful appearance to your facial features.

The facelift procedure as a cosmetic facial rejuvenation surgery turned exactly 100 years old in 2016. The very first face lift operation was performed by a German physician named Erich Lexer in 1916.

According to Dr. Rajiv Grover, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Lexer performed the first ever facelift by, “Lifting the [sagging] skin from the underlying fat, drawing it back, re-draping it and then removing the excess.”

Many other surgeons throughout the world began to perform the procedure after Lexer, but with no major innovations or improvements on the surgical technique until the 1960s and 1970s.

The first 70 years of facelifts in cosmetic surgery are now referred to as the Cutaneous Period of rhytidectomy (facelift) surgery. During this time facelifts were performed at the most surface level of the skin by lifting the skin from the face, pulling it taut, and cutting away the excess loose skin.

Surgeons became experts at performing plastic surgery during World War II in order to reconstruct the faces of injured war veterans, and these skilled plastic surgeons began turning their talents toward cosmetic facial rejuvenation in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1970s facial rejuvenation entered the SMAS period, which is short for Superficial Muscular Aponuerotic System— the stronger, deeper layer under the surface of the skin. Improvements in the safety and effectiveness of anesthesia and more precise surgical techniques allowed plastic surgeons to achieve more dramatic, natural looking, and longer lasting results by augmenting this muscle layer under the skin.

The first major innovation in facial rejuvenation surgery since its inception, the SMAS technique became the standard for facelifts throughout the 1970s. It allowed cosmetic surgeons to take a more extensive, radical approach to facial rejuvenation, enhancing more of the face and even the neck as well.

By the 1980s facial rejuvenation had entered the Deep Plane Period as plastic surgeons could skillfully and safely cut deeper into the face, down to the subperiosteal layer over the bone. Dr. Paul Tessier, the surgeon who had coined the term Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, pioneered this deep plane facial rejuvenation technique.

In 1979 Tessier demonstrated that cutting to the subperiosteum above and to the sides of the orbital rim of bone around the eyes created a better looking result for the eyebrows than facelifts performed at the SMAS layer. This innovative approach could create a far more attractive and youthful appearance for cosmetic surgery patients.

From 1991 to the present, the history of facial rejuvenation has entered into what cosmetic surgeons call the Volumetric Period of rhytidectomy surgery. This period was characterized, in the early 1990s by a reconceptualization of the aims and means of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Plastic surgeons, starting in the 1990s, began to take more care reduce the appearance of scars from facial plastic surgery, and also began to focus on restoring the subcutaneous volume of fatty tissue under the skin that is naturally lost as we begin to age. Another major innovation in the volumetric approach to facial rejuvenation was the introduction of facial implants to contour the face.

The rapid advancement during this time of computer processing power and 3-D imaging techniques, along with computer aided drafting for perfectly fabricating custom facial implants, allowed this innovation to reach a very high standard of perfection in creating an ideal, natural looking result for patients seeking facial rejuvenation.

Dr. William J. Binder was an early innovator in the field of custom facial implants for cosmetic rejuvenation. When the technique first appeared, Dr. Binder saw the potential for aesthetic results for patients through the use of facial implants, but with a keen eye for facial anatomy, he noticed the results did not look completely natural; they were “non-anatomic” as he would say.

Dr. Binder did not believe facial implants could achieve the high standards of perfection he aims to achieve for his patients without applying the precision and power of high-resolution 3-D imaging, powerful digital rendering and imaging, and digital computer-aided drafting to fabricate ideal custom facial implants for patients seeking facial reconstruction or rejuvenation.

By innovating a system capable of fabricating custom-designed facial implants to a high degree of precision, Dr. Binder was able to pioneer a technique that allows the reconstruction of most facial contour defects with a higher degree of accuracy and better results than were ever before possible.

His efforts have helped to bring modern plastic surgery into the 21st Century.

 

About Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is a facial plastic surgery specialist with over three decades of experience with facial plastic surgery.

For almost three decades, his individualized philosophy and approach to facial plastic surgery has led him to pioneer new techniques for face lift procedures and earned him international acclaim for his results.

If you want your face lift performed by one of the world’s leading facial plastic surgeons, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule an initial consultation.

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How Much Does Facial Plastic Surgery Cost?

Lifestyle, Face Lifts, Procedure Overviews, Botox

For something as important and personal as the appearance of one’s face – arguably the most memorable and distinct feature that each one of us has – there are many people who would like to improve some aspect of their facial appearance, knowing they would like the way their face looks better if they could improve or enhance one or more of its features.

Many others are happy with their facial structure and features but would like to rejuvenate their facial appearance to look more like they did when they were a little younger.

For some, the desire stems from an insecurity about their looks that a facial cosmetic procedure can correct, giving them a valuable boost of confidence and self-esteem. For others, the motivation is simply a desire to look their best.

Whatever the reasons for seeking plastic surgery, one relevant factor in a patient’s decision to undergo a facial plastic surgery procedure is the cost involved, and in the beginning stages of researching the pros and cons of plastic surgery, potential patients want to get an idea of the price of a facial plastic surgery procedure.

You may have found that it’s difficult to get an accurate assessment of the cost without an in-person examination of your face and medical history by a cosmetic surgeon, and an in-depth consultation about your specific goals and desired outcomes for undergoing facial plastic surgery.

Because your face is as unique as your fingerprint, and because the facial enhancements ought to vary by patient, cosmetic surgery to alter facial features is an individualized plan and operation for every patient based on their face and their aesthetic desires.

No two facelifts are the same, each rhinoplasty will be different for each patient, and each eyelid or earlobe procedure is unique. Facial surgery to correct a medical problem (such as rhinoplasty to improve breathing) may be covered by some insurance policies.

There are also multiple procedures to achieve the same result and multiple surgical methods for performing the same procedure:

  • Each with their own pros and cons,
  • Each more or less invasive and prone to complications for a given patient,
  • Each with different requirements for anesthesia,
  • Each with their own typical recovery times,
  • And each with varying limits on the extent of the results that can be achieved.

All of these different factors and the surgical plan you and your doctor choose will determine how much a facial plastic surgery operation will cost for each different patient.

In helping patients to come to a decision about their plastic surgery, a modern, professional cosmetic surgeon will help the patient assess how each separate aesthetic feature of their face contributes to their overall facial appearance. The surgeon will also help determine what enhancements to the brows and eyelids, nose, cheeks or mid-face, lower face and chin, neck and/or the composition of the facial skin, fat, and muscle will achieve the most aesthetic overall result in line with the patient’s goals.

Subsequently, the cosmetic surgeon and patient will develop an individualized surgical plan that addresses the patient’s concerns and desires. Therefore the price of the operation will depend on what each person needs and the amount of time it will take the surgeon to perform the operation.

For something that will affect your life as much as facial plastic surgery, it is important to take your time researching plastic surgeons, reviewing their credentials and experience, reading over their websites, viewing before and after photos, and calling to ask any questions you have after researching online.

The High Cost of Impatience

As the old saying goes, haste makes waste – and it can also be costly. When patients require a second or even third visit to the surgeon, each of these revisions could cost as much as the initial operation. That’s why it’s important to be diligent with your research before undergoing any procedure. Communicate your concerns and questions to your doctor. If he or she doesn’t respond to your satisfaction, then it’s time to ask for a second opinion.

Medical professionals must be just that: professional. They should never rush you into a procedure for which you are not ready.

The ramifications can be dangerous and pricey.

Take, for example, breast augmentation surgery. Last year, the cost of this operation averaged $3,718. Now consider the fact that somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of all breast augmentation patients sought additional surgeries within eight to ten years of their first procedure. This leads to soaring healthcare costs, not to mention the discomfort and inconvenience of repeated recuperation times. In addition to the price of the actual operations, you must also factor in lost salary from work as you take time to heal, not to mention the consultations and residual medical costs involved with each follow-up visit.

Caution is advised for any cosmetic procedure, not just the one detailed above. Rhinoplasty, for example, is a delicate operation that requires an equally delicate touch. Of course, you want a skilled doctor in the O.R., but you also want that exacting attention to detail long before the date of your procedure. Planning ahead is essential, and your physician should map out your unique facial structure before formulating any plans when it comes to reconstruction.

Your cartilage is as individualized as your bone structure. Some people have thick, sturdy reserves of cartilage that is more difficult to reshape. Others have thinner nasal shapes that are extremely vulnerable to change and must be treated as such.

Also, once the cartilage has been reconstructed, your skin must be assessed for its elasticity. Will it conform to your new face? How conducive will it be to breathing and general functionality? Are your cosmetic goals attainable given the parameters of your cartilage and skin, as detailed above? If not, how can you and your doctor work together to re-imagine your plans and move forward safely and effectively?

It’s important to answer these questions before the day of your procedure to avoid the need for a repeat visit. After all, the average rhinoplasty costs somewhere in the vicinity of $5,125 according to recent studies. That’s a price tag you only want to encounter once, so let’s work together to get it done right the first time.

When it comes to facial surgery, the most important consideration is safety and the quality of the results you will achieve. USA Today personal finance correspondent Regina Lewis has sound advice to offer regarding the costs of cosmetic surgery. “Don’t cut quality corners,” she said. “Regardless of the procedure you’re interested in, always look for a top board-certified surgeon. Certification standards can vary.” Lewis outlined the following questions to consider when choosing a surgeon:

  • What is the doctor board-certified in?
  • Is the doctor licensed? Are there any state disciplinary actions?
  • How often has the doctor performed the surgery you are considering?
  • Is the facility where the surgery taking place accredited?

Lewis concluded, “Just because you’re getting a nip and tuck, you never want to cut corners on quality.”

Be wary of plastic surgeons who advertise discounts on their fees. “Bargain” and “surgery” are two words that do not look good together. Discounting the value of any specialized, professional service, especially surgery shows very poor judgment in marketing and calls into question the quality of the face-altering surgery you may receive.

When consulting with your prospective plastic surgeon about the cost of your operation, pay attention to whether your surgeon is carefully listening to you, make sure they truly understand the aesthetic results you hope to achieve and gauge your sense of how available and attentive they will be to you after the operation has been completed. Don’t hesitate to look elsewhere if you have any concern that an operation with them might cost you more than their fee.

About Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is a facial plastic surgery specialist with over three decades of experience with facial plastic surgery.

For almost three decades, his individualized philosophy and approach to facial plastic surgery has led him to pioneer new techniques for facial surgery procedures and earned him international acclaim for his results.

If you want your facial plastic surgery performed by one of the world’s leading cosmetic surgeons, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule an initial consultation.

How 3-D Imaging is Innovating Modern Medicine

, , , , , , Lifestyle, Face Lifts

3D-Imaging-Plastic-Surgery3-D imaging via medical diagnostic tools such as MRIs and CT scanning is completely revolutionizing modern medicine.

As these medical devices become increasingly more precise at an accelerating rate, they are providing doctors with more finely-detailed, high resolution 3-D imaging of their patients with each passing year.

At the same time as the rapid increase in the sensitivity and resolution of these modern imaging devices, the processing power of digital computation has continued its exponential growth in price-performance year over year, allowing physicians to render and analyze the data from 3-D imaging all the more effectively.

 

Innovations in 3-D Imaging Resolution

By contrast to the incremental improvements of medical techniques over the centuries, and even to radiography during the decades of the 20th century, in recent years the improvements to medical imaging are coming fast and making a difference by orders of magnitude.

A little over a year ago researchers at MIT announced they had developed an algorithm that exploits light polarization to boost the depth resolution of conventional 3-D imaging technology by 1,000 times.

Researchers say the technique is so promising that it could bring this technology to your pocket: “The technique could lead to high-quality 3-D cameras built into cellphones, and perhaps to the ability to snap a photo of an object and then use a 3-D printer to produce a replica.”

 

3-D Image Processing Speed

A high resolution imaging device has little useful application without the processing speed to match it. Processing power is essential to creating the images and manipulating the data in quality diagnostic scans made by imaging devices.

And it’s not only the rapid pace of improvement in the brute force of computer processing power that’s been essential to 3-D imaging innovation in recent years. It’s the implementation of software solutions that can use that power to effectively reconstruct volumetric data.

There’s also the configuration of hardware processing power in a way that’s effective and efficient for the kind of computation involved in 3-D imaging, such as the incorporation of GPUs (graphical processing units) like those used by gaming software to create better images faster than CPUs can.

 

Machine Learning and Modern 3-D Imaging

One innovator in the field, Mountain View, Calif.-based EchoPixel is helping surgeons take the guesswork out of surgical planning by allowing them to create a 3-D image from patient-imaging data and manipulate it in a virtual environment— to remove tumors, dissect tissues, or measure blood vessels. The technology is allowing physicians to get a more accurate view of their patients’ anatomy.

Furthermore, with the application of machine learning, the software records the clinician’s interactions with the 3-D imaging data, so other doctors can learn from the same steps and methodology. The software is compatible for use on different hardware devices, including wearable tech such as Google Glass, so it can be used in an operating room.

 

How 3-D Imaging is Saving Lives

An ounce of prevention: Along with life-saving advancements to surgery prep for critical surgeries that doctors perform on vital tissues and organs, 3-D imaging is saving lives in the critical field of medical diagnostics.

The use of modern computer 3-D images made from a composite of multiple 2-D radiographic images using tracers and contact dyes has allowed doctors to view a comprehensive image of a patient’s body and observe minor anomalies that would have otherwise gone undetected, providing vital early warning signs of potential health problems.

 

And Making Lives Better

With today’s level of sophistication in computer 3-D imaging technology, its use in medical practice has also found an ever-expanding role to play in helping doctors improve the quality and results of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

For patients seeking facial implants to improve the proportions or enhance the contours of their face, the computer era has made it possible for facial implants to be perfectly tailored to a patient’s face.

Custom implants made using 3-D imaging and computer-aided drafting look smoother, rounder, and anatomical, and allow facial reconstructive surgeons to correctly perceive the interaction of all facial features to create a balanced, well-proportioned face.

Dr. Binder was an early innovator in this field, noticing at first that facial implants of the time were not quite right, or as he would say: “non-anatomic.”

 

Pioneering Facial Contouring and 3-D Imaging

Before bringing the possibilities of high-resolution 3-D scanning, efficient digital rendering and imaging, and computer-aided drafting to fruition in facial reconstruction techniques, Dr. Binder did not see facial implants achieving the desired results he was striving to attain.

By innovating a system capable of fabricating custom-designed facial implants to a high degree of precision, Dr. Binder was able to pioneer a technique that allows the reconstruction of most facial contour defects with a higher degree of accuracy and better results than were ever before possible.

Are You a Good Candidate for a Brow Lift?

, , Face Lifts, Procedure Overviews

brow lift

What is Brow Lift Surgery?

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift addresses the following:

• Reduces the wrinkle lines that develop horizontally across the forehead, as well as those that occur on the bridge of the nose, between the eyes.
• Improves frown lines, the vertical creases that develop between the eyebrows.
• Raises sagging brows that are hooding the upper eyelids.
• Places the eyebrows in an alert and youthful position.
• Fighting signs of aging

Complementing cosmetic procedures to a brow lift include upper and lower eyelid tucks, face-lifting, and skin resurfacing techniques.

What is the Cost of a Brow Lift?

The average cost of a brow lift is $3,201, although costs can vary widely. The average fee does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses. A surgeon’s fee will be based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, and the geographic office location.

Most health insurance does not cover brow lift surgery or its complications, but many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans. Brow lift costs may include:

• Anesthesia fees
• Hospital or surgical facility cost
• Medical tests
• Post-surgery garments
• Prescriptions for medication
• Surgeon’s fee

To choose a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.

Is Brow Lift Right for Me?

As we age, the body changes in various ways. Unfortunately, the face is the most obvious and usually among the very first signs of aging. As the skin loses its volume and elasticity, it begins to sag and droop, creating those wrinkles and fine lines on our forehead. To address this aging skin, many patients have turned to brow lift surgery.

While this procedure sounds enticing, knowing if you are a good candidate for the procedure is first. You may be a candidate for a brow lift if you:

• Are physically healthy
• Don’t smoke
• Have a positive outlook and realistic goals
.
Other factors to consider include age and recovery. When it comes to brow lift, age does matter. Individuals who are in their 40s and 50s are most likely to see significant changes after a brow lift, since this is the time when brow lines, forehead creases and sagging eyelids begin to appear.

Post-procedure recovery is also important to know as you decide on your procedure. After the surgery, you will be given specific instructions that may include:

• How to care for the surgical site and drains.
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection.
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health.
• When to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

In the weeks after your procedure, you should keep you head elevated and refrain from vigorous physical activity. Do not use ice or heat on the operated area. The initial wound will take 10 to 14 days to heal. Sutures or clips will be removed when it is appropriate. You should be ready to work and resume normal activity after two weeks. Swelling and incision lines may take several weeks before completely refined and faded.

Following your physician’s instructions is vital to the success of your surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on to care for yourself.

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

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.

multi-level-facelift-concept

What is a Multi-Level Facelift?

Face Lifts, Procedure Overviews

Life goes on. It’s a common saying that’s often overused in times of strife or when accepting something outside of our control. However trite it may sound, it’s true when concerning the aging process, we can’t control it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s completely out of our hands. Or rather, in the hands of someone like Dr. Binder.

Years and years of research and procedures have led to tremendous strides in technology along with higher quality results in the facial rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery industry. The multi-level approach to facial surgery is one that provides a personalized procedure to those with specific desires for particular areas of the face.

Facelift Surgery

As we all know, aging is a completely natural and inevitable process. The loss of both superficial and deeper adipose fat tissue is what causes the undesirable sagging of skin, development of deep wrinkles, and thinning of the lips. These results of the aging process can be accelerated by factors such as over-exposure to the sun or drug/alcohol use.

Considering aging is so universal, it’s no wonder some people might be inclined to restore some of the elasticity and youthfulness to their face. This is the primary goal of a facelift procedure. Drooping jowls or eyebrows, bags under the eyes, wrinkles, or a sagging neck are all common areas patients have successfully improved with facelift surgery.

Where old facelift procedures would “pull” the skin tight around the face in an effort to forcibly smooth out wrinkles, this grew ineffective and often resulted in an artificially sleek looking face. This is because of the now-outdated focus on only surface level skin. With newer technology and practices, contemporary facelifts focus on deeper tissues in the face and aim to achieve a longer-lasting and more natural result.

The Multi-Level Approach

The multi-level approach to a face-lifting surgery is a relatively recent approach to the cosmetic surgery industry. No single patient is the same and no single patient should be treated as such. That’s why Dr. Binder and his team adopted this highly-personalized method of surgery. Where one patient may desire a full-scale face and neck lift, another may only require a neck liposuction, double chin correction, or eyelid fat removal. This customizable technique of administering treatment is an ideal way to effectively deliver individualized results for everybody.

The different facelift procedures are:

  • Vertical Midface Lift – Lifts the deep fat tissues, primarily of the jowls, and aims to prevent the unnatural “mask-like” look.
  • Under the Chin Neck Lift – The Bidirectional Neck Lift takes muscle from underneath the chin and repositions it upward, creating a better contoured muscular sling. Results are long-lasting.
  • Submental Neck Lift – Reinforces the platysmal muscle that is responsible for bands over the front of the neck.
  • Neck Lipo – This procedure is aimed at younger patients with an excess of fat around the neck and a substantial amount of skin elasticity.
  • Subperiosteal Midface Lift – Designed for younger patients who desire elevated cheeks. Produces nearly-invisible scars just above the hairline.

When considering such a permanent change with a procedure such as a facelift, it is critical that your treatment and care are personalized specifically for your needs and your needs alone. Along with the state of the art advancements in the plastic surgery space, a multi-level approach ensures you achieve not only facial rejuvenation, but the facial rejuvenation that is right for you.

Find out more about Dr. Binder’s cutting-edge procedures and quality care by contacting us today.

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