Question:
I have rosacea. Is it best to treat this with products like skincare or with treatments like the laser? Are there times when you would recommend a combination of the two?
Answer:
The first step to treating acne rosacea is developing a skin care regimen that includes topical prescription products. Once the rosacea is well controlled, laser treatments can be considered. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is an outstanding choice for treating both the broken capillaries associated with rosacea as well as the “blush”. At Hamilton Facial Plastic Surgery, we use the Limelight IPL which provides gentle treatments with minimal downtime or side […]
Question:
I have many age spots on my forehead and cheeks. Otherwise I don’t look too bad for a 76-year-old grandpa. I would like to reduce the appearance of these pigmented spots. Can a chemical peel do this and what would the recovery time for a chemical peel be?
Answer:
There a many ways to treat brown spots, from topical creams such as hydroquinone, to q switched or fractional lasers, gentle IPL light treatments to fairly aggressive CO2 laser resurfacing. Chemical peels offer a one time relatively quick and inexspensive way to treat brown spots as well as mild sun damage and fine lines. […]
Question:
I’ve heard that Latisse can change the color of your eyes. Is this true regardless of color?
Answer:
Latisse is an FDA approved product to make eyelashes thicker, longer and darker. It has a very high safety record. One potential side effect is that it could cause brown discoloration of the iris of the eyes. We say “potential” because it has never been reported when using Latisse as prescribed. Eye darkening has only occurred when the medication is placed directly in the eye on a regular basis as it is when used to treat glaucoma. Users of Latisse should feel comfortable knowing […]
Question:
I’ve been reading up online about laser skin resurfacing. I’m a little confused, since I’ve read about CO2 lasers, Fraxel lasers, Dot lasers, etc. What might be the best laser skin resurfacing treatment for a 42-year-old woman with freckles and sun damage on the face, neck, and décolletage?
Answer:
With all the laser systems available today, choosing the right one can be challenging. The advantage of having so many systems available is that cosmetic surgeons can tailor specific treatments for each patient like never before. For someone with mild to moderate sun damage, IPL (intense pulsed light) is a great option. Theses […]
Question:
After almost a year of investigating different cosmetic procedures, I have finally decided that I would like a facelift. I am planning it during my two week vacation from work. I am also not going to tell anyone except my best friend that I am getting it done. Will the bruising be completely gone by two weeks? Should I take another week’s vacation so that no one can tell that I have had a face lift?
Answer:
Most patients are able to get back out after 2 weeks following a facelift, but WITH make-up. Although most the swelling and bruising will be […]
Question:
I’ve been told by a doctor that I have thick nasal skin. How will this impact my rhinoplasty surgery?
Answer:
Thick skin can definitely affect rhinoplasty. The advantage of the thick skin is that it is more forgiving. Minor irregularities or assymetries will be less visible with thick skin. The disadvanatge is that it makes getting a well defined nasal tip more difficult – the thickness prevents the full affect of what has been done to the cartilage from being realized. An excellent rhinoplasty surgeon can adjust his techniques to compensate for some of this, but there are limitations. Consulting […]
Question:
I would like to get injectable fillers in my face. I would like to plump up both my lips and my nasolabial folds which have gotten quite pronounced. I would like hyaluronic acid because the reports that I read indicate it is longer lasting than collagen. Is hyaluronic acid appropriate for both areas?
Answer:
Hyaluronic acids are the number one filler right now as well as Dr. Hamilton’s favorite for many reasons. One is that the are so versatile- they are great for both enhancement of the lips as well as softening the nasolabial folds. In addition, the hyaluronic acids […]
The great thing about today’s injectables is the minimal downtime. Dr. Hamilton does recommend that patients apply ice to the treated areas for the first day/evening, but make-up can be applied shortly afterwards. For those who do bruise, we can assist with make-up to help camouflage the areas. With today’s injectable fillers, most patients are back to regular activities the next day with the benefit of their new look!
Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS
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There are a variety of ways to rejuvenate your skin after a long summer. Sun, along with smoking, is your skin’s number one enemy. A good skin care regimen (including sunscreen) is the first step. With the right products and time, some of those signs of summers past can be reversed. Microdermabrasion and PPX light treatments both can help speed the renewal process along with a minimum of downtime. For those looking for a more dramatic change, chemical peels and CO2 laser offer powerful ways to make a more dramatic difference, but require several weeks of downtime. The best way […]
