Facial injectables can also be used to smooth lines on the chest area, according to ABC News in New York City.

As a woman ages, the skin between her neck and chest may become crepey and wrinkly. Some cosmetic surgeons are using Botox or Dysport to battle cleavage wrinkles.

“If you look at princes and queen and gowns, they all try to highlight that area,” said cosmetic surgeon Dr. Misbah Khan of Sadick Dermatology in New York City, which offers décolletage rejuvenation.

Kathleen Clyne, 58, noticed she had creping in the chest area. “This was an opportunity for me to fix something I haven’t done in the past,” Clyne said.

Dr. Khan injected Dysport into Clyne’s chest and neck muscles — muscles that contract and cause wrinkles over time. A neurotoxin like Dysport or Botox paralyses the muscles and smoothes the wrinkles.

“The cleavage line becomes much sharper, it becomes much more defined and looks prettier because now we’re not seeing fine lines anymore,” Dr. Khan said.

The fine lines will disappear within about 24 hours after the injections, and the results will last between three and four months.

Linda McLaughlin also had the procedure after radiation treatments for breast cancer changed the texture of her skin.

She reported that her cleavage is smoother after the injections. “I just ordered a beautiful wedding dress for an upcoming wedding and it’s a boat neck line, with cap sleeves, I decided well, maybe I’ll change and get a low cut one, try it that way,” said McLaughlin.

For décolletage rejuvenation, most patients will need between 10 and 20 injections of Botox or Dysport. The injectables aren’t approved by the FDA to treat the chest area, but it is one of the many off-label uses for them.

One of the procedures that is growing in popularity in the last few years is buttock augmentation and sculpting.

There are 2 methods for enlargement of the buttock region.  One is by placement of a silicone implant and the other is by fat transfer to the buttocks.

Buttock Augmentation with implants is the number one cosmetic procedure in Brazil.  I have been fortunate to have learned the Brazilian Technique.  The main advantage of an implant is its immediate significant improvement in projection.

Many women are born with wider hips and disproportionate fat distribution around their buttock and thigh region.   With the tumescent liposuction technique, we can sculpt the hips, thighs and back.  The fat removed is then processed and the pure fat cells are re-injected into the buttock region.  This combination gives a great improvement to the buttock region while diminishing fat in unwanted areas.

For best results, my recommendation is to repeat the fat transfer one more time, preferably within a year.

With advances in the beauty industry, more knowledge about healthy lifestyles, and freer attitudes, Gen-Xers are redefining middle-age, says the Los Angeles Times.

Gen X, the 46 million Americans born from 1965 to about 1979, is more than willing to spend money on anti-aging products and procedures. Gen-Xers rely on preventive anti-aging beauty regimens to a greater extent than boomers do, according to a marketing study on the generation for JWT, one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States.

Women of Gen X tend to look younger than their mothers and grandmothers did when they entered their 40s. This is thanks in part to less cigarette smoking, more sunscreen use and more knowledge about nutrition and the beauty industry.

Gen-Xers feel the need to look younger. A recent survey in Allure magazine found that 93 percent of female and 84 percent of male respondents said there is greater pressure to look younger today than ever before.

Here are some beauty “secrets” for aging gracefully that Gen X women are taking advantage of, according to the LA Times:

• Better hair dyes and thickening products that keep hair full and fight the thinning that comes with age.
• Advances in sunscreens and an increased awareness of the importance of protecting skin from the sun.
• Makeup with luminizers that deflect the focus from wrinkles.
• Advanced skin creams, such as those that speed up cell turnover or decrease the appearance of age spots.
• At-home teeth-whitening kits and lip-plumping lipsticks.
• An array of cosmetic procedures that reverse the signs of aging, including fillers and Botox.

Want to look and feel fabulous at 40? Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon to learn about the non-surgical and surgical cosmetic procedures available to help you look your best at middle age and beyond.

Hi my name is Marlene Corrington. I’m an Esthetician and Intradermal Pigmentation Technician for Inland Cosmetic Surgery.  Intradermal pigmentation is commonly known as permanent makeup or tattoo.

Anyone who wants to spend less time getting ready, improve facial features, or just wake up beautiful every morning should come in for a consultation about this exciting procedure.  Permanent makeup has been around for many many years. This state-of -the -art technique is medically proven and specifically designed to be completely safe.

Permanent makeup is used for a variety of cosmetic enhancements such as permanent eyebrows, eyeliner, and lip liner color.

Other permanent makeup procedures include vitiligo, stretch mark and scar camouflage, areola restoration, hairline enhancement and more.

Remember our philosophy here is…Look your best, feel your best.

Our upcoming November specials are here!

$50 Off Permanent Makeup

Complimentary Microdermabrasion with VI Peel

Call today to reserve your spot at 909-987-0899.  Hope to see you soon.
Marlene Corrington

A skin cream can’t compete with the results of cosmetic surgery procedures, according to a feature by Express.co.uk.

The website had a tester try several cosmetic surgery skin care products for reducing lines and wrinkles, firming skin and plumping lips. The results were not as good or as long-lasting as cosmetic surgery procedures.

For example, a cream that contained peptides to plump lips did instantly add volume. Dr. Michael Prager, a cosmetic surgeon in London, said that while the cream works as a quick fix and hydrates lips, is unlikely to be a long-term solution.

A dermal filler like Restylane, which was recently approved by the FDA for lip augmentation, is your best bet for fuller lips; results last about six months.

After using an anti-aging neck cream that contains a “tensing agent to give an instant lift to saggy skin” for a week, the tester reported that her skin looked smoother and less wrinkly. However, Dr. Prager said it would only work on minor problems and to remove loose skin from the neck, a neck lift is going to give patients the best results.

They also examined a product that claims to be a Botox cream. The tester reported that fine lines filled in and that while her skin felt dry, “the instant results are amazing.”

Dr. Prager believes the cream is filling lines with an ingredient such as collagen and probably has hydrating qualities. For longer-lasting results, Botox injections are the way to go.

Cosmetic surgery procedures produce better and longer-lasting results, but professional skin care products can help you maintain your look between procedures. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about what products he or she recommends for you.

Mary Lou Lueders, 74, never considered cosmetic surgery until she found out that functional blepharoplasty for her droopy upper eyelids could improve her vision.

What she didn’t expect is that she would love the cosmetic results as well.

“I just thought I would grow old gracefully,” she told tampabay.com.

“People told me I looked 10, 20 years younger,” said Lueders after the eyelid surgery. “Now I understand why women do this sort of thing. It makes them feel better and look better.”

“The face communicates so much,” said Tampa surgeon Adam Scheiner, who performed Lueders’ surgery. “The natural course of aging may make us look sleepy, tired or sick all the time. That’s not fair to those people who feel great but their face sends a different message.”

In Lueders’ case, her eyelid procedure was considered medically necessary and was covered by Medicare. She also had a laser procedure to remove festoons under her eyes, which was considered a cosmetic procedure.

Candidates for eyelid surgery may have one or more of the following conditions:

• Bags under the eyes
• Sagging upper eyelids
• A tired, puffy-eyed appearance
• Crepey, excess eyelid skin
• Impaired vision due to eyelid imperfections

After surgery, patients may have some swelling and tightness around the eyes, which should go away within two days after surgery, and a full recovery is usually within ten days.

For a total upper face rejuvenation, eyelid surgery can be combined with a brow lift.

Learn more about eyelid surgery at Inland Cosmetic Surgery.

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes fat and reshapes a specific part of the body. Learn more about the procedure by reading the answers to these common liposuction questions.

Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?

Liposuction is not an obesity or weight loss treatment; it selectively removes persistent subcutaneous fat — fat that’s directly under the skin — that you have not been able to get rid of through diet and exercise.

Before surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will ask to lose as much weight as you can, as the results will be better if you are at a healthy weight prior to surgery.

What areas of the body can be treated with liposuction?

Liposuction can be used to treat many areas of the body where fatty deposits are found, including the abdomen, neck, chin, chest, upper arms, hips, thighs, knees and ankles.

Does liposuction remove cellulite?

Liposuction is not a cellulite removal procedure. Patients should be aware that sometimes removing the fat just under the skin can actually worsen the dimpled look, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about what kind of results you can expect from liposuction, based on your body.

Can the removed fat come back after liposuction?

Fat does not return to the area treated with liposuction, according to the AACS. However, it is recommended that you keep up a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and exercise.

What liposuction techniques are available?

There are several liposuction techniques, including suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) and VASER® Lipo, and your cosmetic surgeon will determine the best one for your procedure.

For more information on liposuction, contact Inland Cosmetic Surgery in Rancho Cucamonga.

A very popular question I hear is “What is the difference between Retinol and Retin A?”  Are they the same? Are they different?  Well, here is the answer for you.  Both Retinol and Retin A are forms of Vitamin A. Vitamin A has been shown to have many anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties.  However, Retinol is not as strong as Retin A and is therefore commonly found in many over-the-counter- products.  Retin A is stronger than Retinol and can therefore provide maximum anti-aging benefits, however it is only available by prescription.

We have wonderful prescription strength Retin A creams here at the office to help your skin look young and beautiful.  Stop in and ask me about which product may be right for you and to see how we can help improve your skin tone, texture and minimize dark spots.

Popular wrinkle filler Botox may one day be available in gel form, according to U.S. News & World Report. Early research suggests the topical Botox gel is effective at reducing crow’s feet.

The study said that the gel “noticeably softened crow’s feet,” but there are still many unknowns about the new drug, including how much it would cost, when it might be available and how well it will work compared to injected Botox. More studies are needed before possible FDA approval.

If a Botox gel does prove to be safe and effective, it would likely be embraced by consumers. Botulinum toxins, such as Botox and Dysport, are the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the country, and the gel could offer a pain-free alternative to the injectables. The gel is applied to the wrinkled area around the eyes; after a half an hour it is then wiped off, according to study researchers.

In one study, close to 90 percent of patients who got the botulinum toxin gel showed a “clinically meaningful” reduction in wrinkles, compared to 28 percent of those who got a placebo gel. In another study with 180 patients who had crow’s feet, about 40 percent responded favorably, the researchers reported.

Topical Botox Would Require Your Cosmetic Surgeon

The botulinum toxin gel is a drug, not a skin cream. That means that if it were eventually to receive FDA approval, patients could only undergo the procedure at their physician’s office.

The researchers did point out that it may be difficult for a gel to get the level of precision that injections provide; however, the gel’s advantage is that patients can avoid the needle.

Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons Respond to USA TODAY article

Last week, USA TODAY ran a front-page story and series of articles that explored controversy about surgical complications and even deaths occurring among people who had cosmetic surgery at “low cost, high volume cosmetic surgery clinics.”

A quote from the article in USA TODAY:

“While these clinics typically employ plastic surgeons who are either board-certified or up for certification, lawyers, victims and other plastic surgeons say these new-style surgery clinics are under so much sales pressure they often don’t sufficiently screen patients for medical problems, do inadequate follow-up and persuade patients to undergo procedures that are either unnecessary or unlikely to get good results. “

Are you putting yourself at risk if you choose one of these high volume, low cost cosmetic surgery clinics? We asked several respected cosmetic and plastic surgeons to respond to this question:

Dr. Haiavy, a cosmetic surgeon in the Inland Empire says:

“Cheaper is not necessarily better when it comes to cosmetic surgery.  Due to decline in the economy, a lot of patients are shopping around for a cheaper price for the procedures they are seeking.  They therefore turn to high volume surgery centers as they offer cheaper prices.

What they do not realize is that with the increased volume and cheaper prices usually comes some compromise in safety.  I cannot tell you how many times I have had patients come back to me years later and regret going to a cheaper place as they had less than ideal results and poor treatment.”