Written By Twin City Plastic Surgery

So you finally did it. You made a New Year’s resolution back in January to lose weight and get fit, and you actually stuck with it. Kudos! Bring on spring and summer, right? Now that it’s June, you can start looking forward to tank tops, sleeveless shirts, and sundresses to show off the new you.

Wait, what’s that? Now you don’t like your arms? How can that be?

As strange as it may seem, there can be a downside, of sorts, to losing a significant amount of weight. Namely, excess skin hanging off the bottom of your arms. If that’s not the case, aging and heredity may have something to do with the condition as well, although there’s not a lot you can do about that. When exercise doesn’t seem to help, regardless of the number of biceps curls and triceps dips you’ve done, one option is to talk with a plastic surgeon about a procedure called brachioplasty.

Brachioplasty, or “arm lift,” is a surgical way to reshape the underside of the upper arm from armpit to elbow. The main purpose is to reduce the amount of excess skin that sags below the arm, as well as tighten and smooth the supportive tissue to give the upper arm a more defined shape. The surgery also reduces localized pockets of fat.

“When the underside of the upper arms appears loose and sags due to excess fat and/or skin, and if the condition is at a stage such that it is resistant to exercise-induced changes, the person may be a good candidate for brachioplasty—especially if the condition affects the person’s sense of self-esteem and well-being,” says Dr. Chad Tattini, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Twin City Plastic Surgery.

Not all arm lift surgical procedures involve the same process. You should choose the best method for you after consulting your surgeon and after you’ve considered the pros and cons of each. For example, one method is to use liposuction to remove excess fat. This is the least invasive option, but may leave saggy and wrinkled skin. A middle-of-the-road procedure and one of the most common techniques is hidden or minimal incision brachioplasty. This option may work for those whose skin still has sufficient elasticity and who have a minimal amount of excess skin. The incision for this procedure is located on the underside of the arm so the scar is more easily concealed.

Brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision on either the inside or back of the arm—depending on the technique chosen in advance. Incisions typically extend from the underarm not quite to the elbow. Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon uses absorbable sutures or stitches to close the incision. Patients may have experience some swelling and bruising, but the new contour of the arm is almost immediately visible.

Most patients choose to have an arm lift for cosmetic reasons. Although most medical insurance plans do not cover such procedures because they are elective, financing plans are commonly offered with low-interest monthly payments.

Regardless of the cause—weight fluctuations, heredity, or age—if you don’t care for the way your upper arms look and feel, you can take steps to change them. Find a qualified, experienced surgeon and work together to create a plan for brachioplasty—it is surgery, after all, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The end result could be an even newer new you. Feeling good about yourself improves confidence, self-esteem, and general well-being—all of which are great results!

Written by Twin City Plastic Surgery

Feel like you’re pulling, tugging, or lifting every time you look in the mirror?

Here are six ways to feel uplifted.

1. Adjust Your Sleep 
While we sleep, gravity and our pillows are at odds with our faces. Likewise, you might have noticed new lines upon waking up. This doesn’t create sagging, but the wrinkles can become permanent and more pronounced the more you smoosh your face as a side or stomach sleeper. Either sleeping on your back or adopting a special pillow to counteract gravity will minimize the contact between your face and pillow, leaving it crease-free through the night.

2. Apply Sunscreen 
UV rays break down collagen in the face. We love collagen because it gives our skin its elasticity. As we age, we gradually produce less collagen, but by applying sunscreen, even in the fall, we can preserve it as much as possible. And don’t forget your sunhat!

3. Facial Exercises 
When we were younger, most of us couldn’t wait to shed “baby fat” that may have given us ample cheeks well into our teens. Then suddenly, we’re wishing the exact opposite. By our late 30s, some of us find ourselves missing a bit of the plumpness in our upper cheeks. With the absence of fat, our cheeks may appear saggy.   Facial exercises, therefore, can build facial muscle to fill the sagging skin. BUT those same movements may also create expression lines, which could become wrinkles.

4. Fillers
Juvederm’s Voluma and Galderma’s Restalyne Lyft are short-chain hyaluronic acid injectables designed to re-contour cheeks and lift facial tissue for a more youthful look.

5. Topical treatments
Retinols and prescription retinoids like Retin-A boost collagen production and remove dead skin cells, leaving skin plump and firm. Bonus- these treatments also loosen clogged pores for beautiful skin all year round.

6. Surgery
With all the amazing new technology, few procedures are as effective at reversing facial sagging as the facelift Sagging at mid-face at the jaw can be physically pulled back, and extra, loose skin removed to create a more youthful appearance.

A combination of lifestyle habits, age and genes creates the unique features of your skin today. If you feel it’s not in an optimal state currently, these six options (and combinations thereof) will go a long way to alleviate your saggy skin, and any worries you might be holding on to about it. Time to get uplifted, in more ways than one!

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery

BOTOX has been deemed as a miracle injectable by plastic surgeons and patients alike. When first released, women everywhere were amazed at the results that they never thought could be possible. And although women are still equally as excited about the results from BOTOX, men are hopping on board too.

Men Have Wrinkles Too

Although it can seem like men are able to get away with a couple additional pounds around their middle and grey hair covering their head way more than women, they still can’t get away with the effects of aging and how it affects their skin. If you’re a middle-aged man, you’ve probably started to notice the appearance of horizontal wrinkles across your forehead, and maybe some subtle wrinkles around your eyes.  For some men, the aging process causes them to look perpetually tired, worried or angry. If you are starting to feel a little self-conscious about the sudden onset of said wrinkles, maybe it’s time to consider BOTOX.

How Does BOTOX Work?

BOTOX works by temporarily relaxing facial muscles that cause wrinkles when you contract them so that fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed out.  Results are usually seen within a few days with maximum effects occurring in about 10 days. The best part is that there is virtually no down time.  You can go back to work the same day.

It’s Still Manly

No matter what you might think, BOTOX is still manly. Yes, your girlfriend, wife, sister, and mom might all get it, but they are doing it for a reason— because it works. And, you don’t have to get so much BOTOX that you start to look like a Ken doll. In fact, your plastic surgeon will work with you to ensure that the results are subtle, yet enough to make a difference at the same time.

BOTOX isn’t about competing with the women and men in your life to see who can look younger for longer. However, if the women in your life are looking younger every year and you notice that you’re just looking more haggard – then you might as well join them!

If you looked at the most handsome men in Hollywood, you would likely be surprised by how many of them have hopped on the BOTOX wagon. Although typically associated with women, BOTOX can be equally effective for men.  And ladies – if you are struggling to find the perfect gift for the man in your life, consider a BOTOX gift certificate.  And guys – just hand this article to the woman in your life if they need a hint.

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular procedures for achieving a more youthful appearance.  These products are injected into the skin and will soften or even eliminate the look of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nose and mouth. Additionally, fillers can be used to add volume to the cheeks and lips— creating a more contoured look in the process.

While fillers are most commonly used to minimize laugh lines, crow’s feet and frown lines, as well as to plump up lips and cheeks, there are also the following ways that fillers can be used that most people aren’t aware of.

Recessed Scars

One good thing about scars is that they tell a story, but the bad thing is that they can make you feel self-conscious and embarrassed. Fillers can be used to temporarily alleviate the appearance of recessed scars by adding volume to the skin— creating a smoother texture in the process.

Facial Contour Deformities

If you have had a surgical procedure to correct facial deformities that were caused by accident or surgery, facial fillers can be used to help with creating natural looking contours across your face. By injecting fillers around your cheekbones, mouth, nose, and chin, fillers can help you temporarily eliminate facial imperfections.

What About BOTOX?

BOTOX is the most popular injectable available, but it is not a dermal filler.  BOTOX injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves so that wrinkles are less noticeable.  BOTOX is most commonly used to lift areas like eyebrows, eyes, and forehead.  There is no downtime with BOTOX, meaning you can resume your normal activities right away.  The effects last about three to four months, depending on what is being treated. BOTOX is also used for many other conditions including underarm sweating.

It’s important to realize that dermal fillers and BOTOX are medical procedures, not cosmetic treatments.   These should only be done by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is knowledgeable about injection techniques and product safety. Because there is a wide variety of different types of dermal fillers, and choosing the correct injection site is crucial, only your physician can recommend the specific strategy that will give you the results you are seeking. Dermal fillers are not appropriate for everyone and although the procedure is very safe, there are certain risks.  Your physician will do a complete medical history to make sure that you are a good candidate, explain the procedure in detail, and answer questions that you may have.

Although temporary, facial fillers provide solid results that can help treat some major areas of concern. The results are usually immediate and will last 6 months to over a year depending on the patient and the type of filler used.

Call Dr. Paige Holt at (309) 664-4444 to set up your consultation appointment today to see what service might be right for you and your specific concerns.

By Twin City Plastic Surgery

The term “plastic surgery” often brings to mind ongoing attempts, especially by the rich and famous, to turn back the hands of time and the effects aging has on the body, or to correct what nature never provided in the first place.

Technically, however, that thought is not quite accurate. In its broadest sense, plastic surgery refers to any medical procedure that alters or restores the form of the body. Under this wide umbrella fall many variations, including reconstructive, craniofacial, hand, and micro surgeries, as well as procedures to treat severe burns.

Cosmetic surgery, the most well-known of the plastic surgery types, is a sub-category of plastic surgery that includes a variety of elective procedures all aimed at improving a person’s appearance. But contrary to popular thought, it’s not only for the rich and famous, nor is it simply about vanity.

The physician and staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office work to improve the life of each patient, regardless of the reason they’ve walked through the door for treatment. And, as one patient shares, “they make it as easy as possible,” from providing education and information regarding the specifics of the procedure to the excellent skill and medical care during the procedure itself and the support and follow up during the recovery and post-surgical healing process.

“I never thought I’d do something like this,” says one of their patients. When a mass on her neck proved to be fatty tissue rather than a tumor, she felt relieved. But because the tissue grew only on one side, she felt more and more uncomfortable about it. “It was obvious, even though I tried to hide it as much as possible with scarves,” she explains. It was bothersome, and made her very self-conscious.

She finally reached the point that she needed to either live with it or do something about it. “I decided I could do nothing or do something…and I decided to do something.”

Although she’s very happy with the results, she emphasizes that the reason for her decision to have surgery to remove the mass was not simply based on vanity. “People tell me I look younger, but that’s an unexpected benefit. I still have wrinkles and crow’s feet—but now I’m not self-conscious about the mass, so I have a better outlook and am more confident. I think confidence has a huge effect on how you look.”

Additionally, she stresses that having the surgery was not a rash decision made in a fit of frustration. She did her homework, taking several months to research procedures and surgeons. She advises anyone who is considering this type of elective surgery to do the same. “I had heard about similar facial surgeries from others, and the staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office provided names of other patients who had had similar experiences. They [previous patients] can tell you what’s really going to happen. It is, after all, surgery—it’s not going to be a piece of cake. It’s really a pretty big deal.”

Another wise decision she made was to research the doctors. “I wanted to know their background, their education and credentials—I wanted an expert in the type of surgery I was going to have,” she says, because something as important as surgery deserves to have the best person performing it.

Elective, cosmetic surgery can certainly change how you look, but it’s important to be realistic about what surgery can and can’t do for you. Surgery is a big decision, but if you do your homework about the type of surgery you want, the surgeons, and the costs, it’s definitely something that can enhance your life.

“I didn’t want to look like a different person…I just wanted to take care of something that bothered me,” the patient explains. “And I’m glad I did.”