Ask Dr. Jenq

Facelift and necklift involves elevating and tightening the skin of the cheeks and neck to smooth out the contour of the laugh lines, jaw line, and neck. In addition, Dr. Jenq performs a volumizing technique of returning tissue that has fallen down on the face back to the position of the cheeks using suspension sutures. If you plan to lose weight, you should try to do so prior to surgery rather than after, as you may develop extra loose skin if a significant amount of fat is gone. Once you are at your ideal weight, it is a good idea to maintain a stable weight in the immediate time period before surgery to avoid extra stress on your body. The main recovery time period would be initially about 2-3 weeks; there may be some general swelling and firmness which can remain for several months.

Taking out a mole is a pretty straightforward procedure. It involves first numbing the area of the skin with some injectable anesthetic. Then, the mole is removed and the skin is closed with a few stitches. Afterwards, you would have some ointment over the incision and it should be covered with a bandaid for about a week. The only discomfort would be the injection of the local anesthetic. Afterwards, the scar may be a little bit sore for one or two days, but not painful. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes, and it is performed right in our clinic. If there is any concern regarding the size or coloration of the mole, Dr. Jenq may decide to send it for further analysis by a pathologist to rule out skin cancer.

The right procedure for you depends on the location of the extra wrinkles and also whether you have extra skin that can benefit from tightening (like a facelift). Typically, if you are primarily interested in nonsurgical therapies, a filler like Juvederm or Restylane works best for lines around the mouth. Some people have "smokers lines" which occur after years of smoking cigarettes. It this case, smoking cessation will be the most important action that you can take to stop future premature aging from tobacco use. Filler can be used in the area of the lower face for softening laugh lines or marionette lines.

Interestingly, there was no study that ever tried to answer this specific question until 2011, from University of Colorado. A group of patients were followed before and after liposuction and compared with a group of patients who did not have surgery. What the study found was that when liposuction of the thighs and hips were done, the fat tended to accumulate more in other areas like the abdomen. However, the areas of the thighs and hips tended to remain contoured. The take home message? Liposuction, while not effective for weight loss, can help to address disproportionate regions of fat accumulation.

The Brazilian butt lift involves contouring the area of the waist and torso by liposuction. The micro droplets of fat from the liposuction are then carefully processed and placed into the buttocks in multiple planes using special fat transfer cannulas. Fat transfer increases the roundness and fullness of the buttocks, while liposculpture of other areas reshapes and smooths out fat stubborn pockets.

If you are happy with your current breast size, it is worthwhile to undergo just the breastlift procedure, with removal of extra skin while leaving your natural breast tissue. You can achieve a much improved breast shape after this procedure. If you would like to be a larger breast size and you have extra sagging of skin, then you may need both breast implants and breast lift. One thing however to consider is that you may decrease your risk of complications by undergoing each procedure separately, rather than as a combined procedure.

Both saline and silicone implants are considered safe and effective by the FDA. Extensive studies have discounted the link between silicone implants and autoimmune disorders. Ultimately, the decision of whether to use a saline or silicone implant is a very personal one.

My favorite is breast augmentation and breast reduction. Even though the principles and techniques of breast surgery may be straightforward, creating an aesthetically appealing shape and form takes great finesse. As a woman, I can personally relate to how important it is for the patient.

Botox works well for dynamic wrinkles whereas fillers work better for static wrinkles. This means that if you have a wrinkle that is there even when you are not frowning, then a filler wound be needed to smooth out that line. If you have a wrinkle that appears only when you frown or raise your eyebrows, then botox would work best to address this.

Liposuction is the use of tubes, called cannulas, to suction out fat pockets found under the skin. Liposuction can be helpful to contour stubborn fat deposits in areas such as the neck, thighs, waist, and underarm. It works best when the overlying skin is elastic and does not overhang. Afterwards, you may have some residual swelling in the areas of surgery which goes away after about a month.

It is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen that you can fit into your daily routine to improve your overall health. Heavy dieting and exercise for rapid weight loss immediately before surgery is not recommended. Prepare for surgery by tidying your household needs. Avoid blood thinners, aspirin, and herbal supplements. Also, remember to contact your friends and family ahead of time so that they know to help your during your recovery.