Holiday Cosmetic Procedures and Trends

There are always new beauty trends and aesthetic treatments emerging as the latest and greatest procedures to help you look younger and more vibrant. Holiday time is generally a very busy time for patients to have surgery, fillers, facials, and lasers.

Living and working in Beverly Hills, I am able to talk with physicians and patients about what the latest procedures are, who has tried them, if they work, and what the general feedback is.

Many patients are looking for the latest non-surgical options that will give them fabulous results with little to no down time, so that they will look refreshed and youthful at holiday and family gatherings.

Lasers, the liquid facelift, fat melting machines that freeze away fat from your midriff are all options that are being explored more and more frequently due to cost and minimal bruising or scarring. Physicians are looking to provide the best non- surgical options other than surgery to offer to their patients.

So what’s new in Beverly Hills for the holidays?

PRP and the Vampire Facelift:

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP has been used in medicine for many years…in fact, some well-known plastic surgeons have been using it for years to speed healing time during a facelift procedure. Basically, a Vampire Facelift is a vial of your blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge.

The blood separates into the red blood cells and golden colored plasma. The plasma when activated and injected stimulates new cell growth, collagen growth, tissue repair, and circulation. This shows on the face as increased volume, better color and richer skin tone. While there are some who question the efficacy and results of PRP, there have been studies recorded and documented and it is completely safe with no allergies associated.

PRP can be delivered in different ways. In the Vampire Facelift, a trademarked procedure, it is used in conjunction with an HA such as Juvederm or Restylane in the face. The results are immediate, with the maximum results apparent around 3 months after the procedure. Patients have started asking for this procedure by name as it has no down time, is virtually painless, and costs less than a surgical intervention. This past week it was reported that Kim Kardashian had one, which has created quite a bit of attention. There is a training process for the physicians to do this procedure, so check that your doctor or nurses are certified to do this correctly.

Microneedling:

Gone are the days of the Dermal rollers, the latest technique is an electric pen that vertically stamps the skin with very fine needles.

The pen controls the depth of the needles and prevents micro tears that the dermal rollers can cause. The microneedler does not hurt, can be used with PRP or other serums such as Vitamin C to rejuvenate the face and stimulate collagen. This has shown great results on acne scars and stretch marks. It can also be used on any part of the body…face, neck, hands, abdomen, legs.

Coolsculpt:

Coolsculpt has made an appearance in several practices and has received much media attention. As an alternative to surgical liposuction, Coolsculpt uses a targeted FDA approved fat freezing system that freezes the fat cells away. It does not use lasers that can damage other tissue…the fat cells are then naturally eliminated by your body. The procedure takes approximately one hour and you can go back to your day. Maximum effects can take a few months.

Those are just three of the most popular cosmetic procedures that patients are inquiring about. 2013 will bring even more exciting and progressive options. Happy Holidays!