Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeons

After 15 Years Fat Injections to my Tear Troughs Are Still Lumpy and Look over Corrected. Do I Have Options for Removal?

After 15 Years Fat Injections to my Tear Troughs Are Still Lumpy and Look over Corrected. I Have Been Told by 4 Top NYC plastic surgeons they cannot remove it or minimize it...With new technology, I am not sure why it can't be reduced with laser or some kind of injection... At 55 finally I am losing more of my own fat around the injections sites and the lumps are becoming more prominent. Three years ago I had a surgeon inject filler around the lumps to try to even out the area with some success but now the filler is gone and the area looks worse...Help!

This problem typically needs an open surgical approach to improve it.  Liposuction tends to be ineffective because of the surrounding scar tissue and injections such as with a steroid can be unpredictable or cause further contour problems.  I would agree with the other post - Sydney Coleman has done more fat injections than anyone, and is in New York.  Get his opinion.

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

PSP Facelift Results As Dramatic As SMAS Facelift?

I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow, who suggests going ahead with a PSP Facelift. I'd like to know first, will PSP facelift results look as dramatic as SMAS facelift?

The Platysma SMAS Plication face lift is one of many techniques that have been employed for facial rejuvenation.  While this technique can lift the facial tissues it is limited by the fact that the tissues are only lifted in one direction.  Thus it is an effective technique but is more limited than the use of a multivectored SMAS flap.

Michael Sundine, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

What is Your Opinion of the Roundblock SMAS Facelift Technique?

I'm 46 years old Finnish woman and am having some signs of ageing, especially on the neck. One plastic surgeon recommended a Roundblock smas -operation for me.

The RoundBlock SMAS Technique is a face lift technique that involves limited skin undermining and a pursestring suture placed around the ear.  This may be effective in a small population of patients.  However, most patients require a more involved procedure that allows for repositioning of the facial fat using the SMAS layer to restore the heart-shaped face of youth.  The careful placement of incisions and closure of the skin without tension is by far more important to having inconspicuous scars than the technique of SMAS elevation.

Michael Sundine, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon