On Thursday, April 19, we held our Body Contouring Seminar. Dr. Togba discussed all aspects of Body Contouring to include Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, and Reduction, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck and the now famous, Brazilian Buttock Lift.

Here are some comments by some of the attendees:

“The seminar was very nice and I enjoyed it. I thought it was a good way to introduce people to the options. Personally, I thought Dr. Togba imparted realistic expectations. His standards and ethics were noticeable as well, and you and Karen were so welcoming!”

Below is a list of upcoming seminars. You don’t want to miss out!

Want to have a facial cosmetic procedure, but not sure where to begin? Here is a basic guide of 5 tips to consider and help you along on your path to facial rejuvenation.

1. Start with the part of your face that most concerns you. When you look in the mirror, what is the first area that you always notice and would like to improve? Is it the Jawline? Naso-labial folds? Excess upper eyelid skin? Puffy under eye area? Droopy brow? Sun damaged skin? Let this be your guide and try not to let anyone talk you into starting elsewhere.

2. Take out your old photos, like the ones you took in high school or in your 20s. We had no idea how cute we really were back then. Compare your face then to now. Look for areas that have drastically changed if any at all. Is there a difference? Keep in mind, your results should look natural, like a younger version of yourself. A facial plastic surgery procedure should not change your facial features, but rejuvenate or turn back time - 10 years or more is nice.

3. Still not sure? Have a full face evaluation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Of course, a plastic surgeon can see the underlying causes that affect the ageing in our face and pinpoint the areas that can use some improvement.

4. The eyes always have it! When it comes to eyelid surgery, this is one minimally invasive procedure that can refresh your entire face and transform your look. This is the area that is first noticed when people look at you, and because of the thin skin, can be the first area that can show signs of ageing. If you need eyelid surgery, this procedure ranges from $2800 - $3100 for Upper or Lower Eyelids, but can give you the most bang for your buck.

5. A facial procedure is only half the battle, always consider rejuvenating the skin, this will make even the smallest procedure go a long way. Obagi Skin Rejuvenation System is a medical grade skin care program that is designed to effectively treat sun damage (fine lines and sun spots). Laser treatments can target deeper wrinkles, like “smoker’s lines” around the mouth, and also transform skin giving a healthy, more youthful look.

Keep in mind if you have a special occasion like an anniversary, wedding or a vacation, consider having your procedure 2 months before. You should look great after 14 days with most surgeries, but this will give you plenty of time to show optimal results. Want to know more about specific plastic surgery procedures? Join us at one of our upcoming seminars. Call our office for details 888-831-4197.

Karen, our office administrator, had a facelift. Here is part II of her step by step account. Everything you want to know firsthand.

I am three months post op and I’m continuing to improve. My face is back to its original shape which is pear. I liked it a little rounder but that is not the “real me.” I am so pleased with my results. When I look in the mirror, my jowls are gone and my face has a fresh appearance. Prior to having this procedure, my family did not understand why? Now, they notice the difference and I get a lot of compliments from them and acquaintances. My younger sister is considering a facelift surgery now.

I usually have a problem with scars but they are barely noticeable. Last week, Dr. Togba injected the scars behind my ears, since they are slightly raised, but they are shrinking. My face was firm in the beginning and somewhat numb but every week it changes for the better. I still feel a slight numbness near my ears and under my chin. I also have some itching, which is a sign of healing, with some tenderness. The smile lines around my eyes are non-existent, which I love. Previously, I needed to have injections in that area with Botox, but not anymore.

I feel great and look 10-15 years younger. I was teasing with Dr. Togba last week and told him I was going to trade my man in for a younger model. I couldn’t be happier with my results; Dr. Togba is truly an artist.

Q:  Does Laser Liposuction work better than Standard Liposuction?

A:  Great question!  The answer is that there is no scientific evidence that laser liposuction offers any benefits over standard liposuction.  The retraction of the overlying skin has to do with its turgor rather than the instrument used to remove the fat.  No matter the modality, (whether laser, vaser, smart liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction) they all produce the same results.  Through small incisions a liposuction cannula is inserted and fat cells are gently removed. Liposuction is the ideal procedure for removing small localized areas of fat to create a smooth, contoured physique.

On Thursday, January 26, we had our Cosmetic Surgery Wine & Cheese Open House which was a huge success. During the open house, Dr. Togba briefly discussed how to recycle your own body fat for a fuller, youthful face along with the popular Brazilian Buttock Lift.

There were representatives for Botox, Latisse, Juvederm, Sculptra, Radiesse, Xeomin, Obagi and more.

With over 65 attendees, this was our biggest event of the year.

Throughout the year we offer smaller seminars that address plastic surgery interests from Facelifts to Body Contouring.

Karen, our office administrator, had a facelift. Here is a step by step account. Everything you want to know firsthand:

Last year during the summer, I was looking in the mirror and decided that gravity and mother time were catching up with me. Primarily, I didn’t like the lower part of my face. I took my hands and pulled at the sides and decided that there was too much loose skin and too many wrinkles. Then from the side, I noticed that my jaw line was loose and that I had jowls. Oh No!!

Of course, I knew I had to turn to Dr. Togba to fix me up. We decided that November 22nd would be my surgery date. It was hard to choose this date because I knew that Thanksgiving Day would be two days later and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to eat. That’s very important because EATING is my second favorite pastime.

I was a little nervous after my consultation. I knew the procedure was extensive but I did not know to what degree. Dr. Togba answered all my questions and eased my mind. Now I was ready.

I arrived at the office and thought how odd it was to be on the surgery table. I slept through most of the surgery. At the end I started to wake up to a buzzing sound…it was the cautery machine. It seemed loud but there was no discomfort at all. I didn’t feel out of it or drugged at the end of the procedure. I was ready to go home because it was a 4 1/2 hour surgery.

The first evening Dr. Togba had placed a large thick bandage around my face. There was little discomfort and my lower neck and shoulder areas had swelling & bruising. There was also some pain where the drain had been placed in my neck. I took a half of Percocet and started to apply ice to the sore areas.

The following day, Wednesday, I came into the office to have the large bulky dressing off & to have my drain removed. Melody, our patient counselor, thought I looked good. Everyone was surprised that I wasn’t black & blue because ordinarily, after even the smallest of injections, I am bruised purple. I slept propped up on three pillows so there was not much swelling. I went for a walk and felt tired afterwards so I ended up taking a nap. It was hard to get a tooth brush in my mouth so I did quite a bit of rinsing.

Thanksgiving Day I decided to stay home and take it easy. I felt great and could have gone to my family’s house but I watched movies all day and slept off and on. My mouth was not opening very wide but that didn’t matter. All of the food was soft…mashed potatoes, dressing, yams, cranberry sauce, turkey & pie…etc. I felt energized but I knew I had to take it easy. I did feel a little down and lonely but I had to remind myself that after this type of surgery you can get a little depressed. I cried but it was because I miss my parents and older sister that are deceased. I felt melancholy for a couple of days. I was getting cabin fever, but I wasn’t ready to venture outside.

The weekend was uneventful. No pain medicine was needed at all. I think I took four pills the first two days. I usually go dancing every weekend and I was ready to go out Saturday night but I knew I couldn’t do any activities that would raise my heart rate. I also needed to be careful not to bend over. I was getting used to squatting down to pick up anything from the floor or the lower drawers.

Monday morning, I came back to work. I had a band around my face. I decided to wrap a scarf over the band. So, I came to work with a Marilyn Monroe type of style. Not that it looked bad but I knew I would get a lot of questions. I worked all day and was fine. I was tired when I got home but nothing excessive.

Tuesday, Melody and I went to a luncheon and it was hard to tell that I was only one week post op. My face was swollen and I had a few bruises on my chin. Wednesday evening I went to a dinner and there were a lot of people there (as well as plastic surgeons) but no one really knew I just had surgery. My mouth was finally opening up…whoo hoo !!

At this point, the hardest thing was to take it slow. I get teased a lot about being high energy. I am moving soon, so I wanted to pack but I was not allowed. It was a great opportunity to read and watch movies.

Today, I have been back to work for 3 weeks. Dr. Togba gave me permission to go out this weekend. I went dancing and it felt wonderful. A friend I have known for years asked me what I had done because I looked beautiful. I said I had a much needed vacation and he commented maybe he needed one too. I can open my mouth so I can eat anything I want. My face feels numb in certain areas and a little tight. The scars around my face have almost disappeared. The scars behind my ears feel lumpy but I know it will just take time for them to flatten out. I enjoy wearing my hair up and Dr. Togba told me it would take about three months. I am absolutely thrilled with my new look. I look younger and rejuvenated. Dr. Togba is truly an artist and I would recommend anyone for any type of plastic surgery they might want. If you want to ask me any questions please do…as you know I have the information first hand.

My progression before and after my facelift from Day 1 to Day 23:

Transcutaneous vs. Transconjunctival?  2 very effective eyelid surgeries.  Use the snap test to determine which procedure is appropriate.

Q:  I had a couple of consultations for lower eyelid surgery and I got 2 recommendations.  One doctor recommended the transcutaneous approach and another the transconjunctival approach.  How do I know which one is the best choice for me?

A:  Either approach to your lower lids will result in an improvement.  In order to determine the best surgical option, it is important to evaluate your skin changes - are there fine lines, wrinkles, capillaries, etc?  Another factor that helps us to determine the best approach is the resilience of the lower lid when it is pulled away from the eye ball - the snap test.  If the skin is smooth and the lower lid snaps back as soon as it is released then the transconjunctival approach would be my choice.  Very little bruising associated with this approach.  If there are multiple fine lines with a good snap test then I would suggest laser resurfacing in addition to the transconjunctival approach.  If you have a poor snap test then I would recommend a transcutaneous approach with a tightening procedure for the lower lid - a canthopexy.

We all would like a youthful, healthier, evenly colored complexion, free of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes.Obagi Nu-Derm, a prescriptive strength, clinically proven skin rejuvenation system, designed to reverse photodamage is a successful treatment for fine lines and also melasma.  Melasma, also called the “Pregnancy mask,” is hyperpigmentation that can occur in the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead of women.  It is controlled by hormones and can worsen with sun exposure.  Check out Obagi’s latest study, “Patient’s with darker skin experience a marked reduction in Melasma with the Obagi Nu-Derm System plus 0.05% Tretinoin cream,” http://obagi.com/sites/default/files/clinical/docs/mel004-clinical.pdf.

Q:  I have a sunken look to my under eye area and I am looking for a solution to fill my tear troughs.

A:  Your concern regarding the loss of volume in the tear troughs and cheeks is what drive many patients to seek a filler solution.  You have several options to consider:

1) hyaluronic acid fillers as Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, etc. which are effective for up to a year.  These are all reversible if you don’t like the results.

2) Radiesse, for the cheeks, which will last for 18 months.  Not reversible.

3) Sculptra, a volumizer that stimulates your body to produce collagen with results that last for two years.  Not reversible.

4) Fat grafting which can last for years. The fat is taken from your body and injected into your face.  You will need a skilled plastic surgeon who has done many of these procedures.

All of the above options can produce excellent results in the hands of a skilled physician.   The physician you see can help you decide which product(s) to use and areas to fill.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over a million and a half filler injections were performed in 2010.  Did you know that most facial fillers, such as Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane and others that are FDA approved are approved for only the smile lines (Naso-labial folds)?  Some of the common off-label areas to inject with these fillers are the marionette lines, lips and vertical lipstick lines, corners of the mouth, under eye area and other depressed areas of the face and hands.  Restylane, a hyaluronic acid filler, created by Medicis, is the first filler to receive FDA approval for lips.  Check out this article, http://www.restylaneusa.com/restylane_for_lip_enhancement/default.aspx