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The exciting new ‘fill & finish’ procedure can give you a youthful look

Brow Lift Vs Forehead Lift: What's the Difference

A growing number of men and women are choosing minimally invasive anti-aging treatments, in the battle against aging. So it’s not surprising that there are a variety of options now available, including the ‘fill and finish’ procedure. The exciting new ‘fill and finish’ procedure is an innovative technique used to replace lost facial volume, and create a younger look. The procedure is offered by the Bay Area Laser Cosmetic Surgery Center in the greater San Francisco area.

‘Fill & Finish’

‘Fill and finish’ is a 2 step procedure that combines Radiesse and Belotero Balance, to deliver the best facial rejuvenation results to clients.

  • Radiesse is a synthetic calcium hydroxyapatite soft tissue filler that fills in wrinkles, and plumps up the skin. Radiesse works by adding volume to the skin tissue, which in turn softens existing folds and wrinkles. It is particularly effective when used to fill in nasolabial folds and hollow cheeks.
  • Belotero Balance is a hyaluronic gel that is widely used to restore volume to the face and lips.  Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the connective tissue of the skin, so it is easily absorbed. Belotero is used to fill out moderate to severe facial wrinkles, especially those around the mouth. The procedure does not require anesthesia, and can be done in-house, in as little as 15 minutes.

Both Radiesse and Belotero are FDA approved and require minimal downtime. The ‘fill and finish’ procedure complements the natural structure of the skin, so it produces natural looking results that can last 10- 12 months.

You can find out more about the exciting new ‘fill and finish’ procedure by calling the Bay Area Laser Cosmetic Surgery Center, which serves the greater San Francisco area. Why not schedule an appointment with Armen Serebrakian, MD, by calling (510)724-8282 for the Pinole office, or (415) 461-5755 for the office in Larkspur.

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Reducing lines and wrinkles is the key to younger looking eyes

Reducing lines and wrinkles is the key to younger looking eyes

If the lines around your eyes are giving your age away, you can reverse the signs of aging and rejuvenate your eyes with laser skin resurfacing. Reducing those lines and wrinkles is an important key to achieving younger looking eyes. The Mixto fractional laser treatment is an effective way to resurface and tighten the skin, and refresh the eyes.

Mixto fractional laser eye treatment

The Mixto laser utilizes fractional CO2 laser technology to tighten the skin. The laser works by creating a series of microscopic injury points in the skin. The heat damage made by the laser tightens the skin, and also stimulates collagen, so that tightening occurs in the long term. The healthy cells that remain after treatment act as a stimulus for healing, helping to expedite the recovery process.

The Mixto laser offers greater treatment flexibility, as it allows physicians to adjust the depth of penetration, as well as the amount of heat delivery. This makes it very effective in treating delicate areas around the eyes, as physicians can precisely regulate how deep they need to go, and the how much energy needs to be delivered to the tissues.

After treatment, patients will notice a significant reduction in the fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area. The Mixto laser has a minimum downtime and few risks.

Mixto laser Treatment in Atlanta metro

Mixto fractional laser treatment is available at Cobb Wellness & Aesthetics in Roswell, GA. Dr. Linda Kelly sometimes combines the Mixto laser therapy with Botox, in order to make the results last longer.

If you’d like to reduce those telltale wrinkles around the eyes, give Cobb Wellness & Aesthetics a call at (770) 649-0094.  Dr. Kelley will review your aesthetic goals and customize a treatment program that can give you the younger looking eyes you desire.

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Deciding whether to do an Arm Lift vs Liposuction

Deciding whether to do an Arm Lift vs Liposuction

If you have super flabby arms that are simply out of proportion to the rest of your body, then you may have to turn to surgery for help. An arm lift is typically recommended in these cases, but liposuction is also an option.  The decision to go with an arm lift vs liposuction to sculpt the arms, depends on the relative amount of surplus skin and fat.

Both procedures can be used to shape the arms and give them a normal appearance.

Arm Lift

Brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is typically done to improve the contour of the upper arms, by eliminating excess skin and fat. It is usually done in an outpatient surgical setting under general anesthesia. The procedure lasts 2 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of the work to be done. This also influences the length of the incision, which is usually made in the armpit, and extends down the arm. Unlike liposuction, arm lift surgery leaves a visible scar on the inner arm.

Liposuction

Liposuction can also be used to improve the upper arm, but it is usually recommended for patients with good skin tone. This will enable the skin to tighten up after surgery. Patients with a lot of loose skin may not get good results with liposuction; therefore the surgical arm lift would be more beneficial.

If you have abundant skin in your upper arm, and would like to know whether to have an arm lift vs liposuction, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Clients in Orange County, CA, can contact Song Plastic Surgery, Irvine, for a  consultation with Dr. Kyle Song. Dr. Song will help determine which option would be right for you. Call the office today at  (949) 701-4454.

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Innovative ways to treat loose skin around neck without surgery

Innovative ways to treat loose skin around neck without surgery

The neck often begins to show signs of age long before the face does, but there are now new ways to treat loose skin around the neck without surgery. In recent years, several non-invasive cosmetic procedures that can improve skin quality and rejuvenate the skin have emerged, and Exilis is one of the best.  Exilis is a fast, powerful device that has been used to successfully tighten neck skin.

Exilis for skin tightening

Exilis is a safe and reliable skin tightening technique that uses radio frequency (RF) energy. It can also be used to eliminate pockets of fat that accumulate in areas like the chin and neck. Exilis is a hand-held device, and this makes it very easy to manoeuver, and get to areas that are difficult to reach.

How Exilis tightens the skin

Exilis heats the underlying tissue in the skin’s dermal layer. The heat provides the stimulus needed for collagen production, and this in turn leads to the tightening of the skin as new collagen forms. This significantly reduces sagging, and also minimizes jowls.

Benefits of Exilis

Exilis is a comfortable treatment that is virtually pain free, and needs no downtime. It is therefore the ideal solution for people who want to look their best, but don’t have a lot of time to be off work. Exilis tightens the skin and reduces fat at the same time, making it an excellent option for those wishing to rejuvenate the neck.

If you’d like to achieve tighter, firmer neck skin without surgery, Exilis is a great option for you. Contact Cobb Wellness & Aesthetics in Roswell GA, to find out more. You can call Dr. Linda Kelley at (770) 649-0094, or fill out an online form by going to http://www.cwaesthetics.com/contact-us/.

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What are the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting

What are the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting

Nowadays, there are a number of cosmetic techniques being used to counteract signs of age such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging jowls.  Facial implants, soft tissue fillers, and fat grafting, are some of the more popular techniques. However, better results are being produced by facial fat grating, due to new technologies that are now available (click here).

What is facial fat grafting?

Facial fat grafting is a minimally invasive procedure in which surplus fat  is removed from one part of the body, and then grafted into the specific parts of the face that need volume.  When the procedure is successful, the transplanted fat forms new blood supply, which it needs in order to survive. Facial fat grafting is considered an excellent facial rejuvenation technique to give you the fuller face you desire.

Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting

  • The results are long term. When compared to other options such as tissue fillers, the volumizing effects of fat grafts last for a long time. Soft tissue fillers typically last 6-12 months. The longevity of fat grafting therefore makes it an attractive alternative.
  • The results look natural. When it comes to soft tissue augmentation fat is the ideal material for this purpose, because it creates a natural-looking appearance.
  • Requires only one session. Most patients achieve their cosmetic goals with just one session of fat grafting.If you are contemplating having fat grafting done, be sure to consult with an experienced surgeon who has first-hand knowledge of this highly skilled procedure. In order to get optimal results, the fat must be injected at the correct depth and location.Dr. Kyle Song is a board certified plastic surgeon with a lot of experience carrying out facial fat grafting. You can contact him at Song Plastic Surgery, in Irvine, CA, by calling 949-701-4454, or go to http://www.songplasticsurgery.com/.
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Legal nuances private practice physicians should be aware of

Under the federal health care programs, certain types of referrals are not allowed. The self-referral prohibitions were put in place to prevent physicians or their immediate families, from benefiting from certain transactions. These are some of the legal nuances or distinctions that private practice physicians should be aware of, if they are to operate effectively, and remain complaint.

Although specific referrals are expressly prohibited under the federal Stark Law, ‘safe harbors’ do exist that would allow exceptions. However, most health practitioners are often confused about these provisions. The situation is often compounded when there are also state laws regulating self-referrals. This is the case in California with the Speier Act.

In-Office Ancillary Services
Exceptions to the state and federal compensation relationships exist under the ‘in-office Ancillary Services’ (IOAS). IOAS does provide some protection under the law, but again there are legal nuances that private practice physicians should be aware of.

IOAS was instituted to allow physicians to provide ancillary services in their practices that would be reimbursed by Medicare. These services include radiology and physical therapy. Some physicians mistakenly assume that if they co-own a company that provides ancillary services, and the company is situated in their office building, they automatically qualify for IOAS exemption.

However, this is not the case; therefore some of them are in violation of the laws prohibiting self-referrals. Unfortunately they are often not aware of this until they are audited by Medicare, or Medi-Cal, (in the case of California).

If you are a private practice physician and would like to ensure that your in-office ancillary services arrangements meet Medicare requirements, contact us at Nelson Hardiman, LLP, in Los Angeles. You can call us at 310-203-2800 to set up a consultation.