Grossman Dermatology - Santa Monica

Dear mumay1,
It can absolutely look natural! Fat grafting to the face is one of my favorite procedures for natural revolumization. I’ve been performing this in my practice for over 20 years. After weight loss, or aging, skin appears loose and saggy due to volume loss in the area. Strategically adding fat back into the upper face will help lift the skin and reduce the “gaunt” appearance which happens after significant weight loss or aging. Additionally, revolumizing the upper face decreases jowling and improves the appearance of your lower face as well.
The trick is to find a practitioner who is experienced in this specific procedure. Using fat instead of filler is ideal because it lasts longer.
One important thing to remember is that fat in your face is subject to variation depending on weight loss or weight gain. I would recommend undergoing this procedure when you are at a stable weight. Gaining or losing more than 10-15 pounds before or after the procedure is not advised.
However, if you concerned about how you will look after fat grafting, you can always try to start with an HA filler. If you end up not liking how it looks, you can always dissolve it.

Hope that answers your question!

Dear Moba81923,
Based on the It is hard to tell if someone is a candidate without a physical examination. However, I can tell you that Ellacor is one of the only minimally invasive modalities for skin tightening that is safe on all skin types and for patients with melasma because it does not use heat. Most technologies for tightening the skin are energy based and use radiofrequency heat. This unfortunately is a contraindication for darker skin tones because of the risk of hyperpigmentation. Similarly, for patients who have melasma, the heat can actually aggravate and potentially worsen the condition.

However, if you have fat in your chin area, Facetite/Necktite might be the best option. A personalized consult with a experienced provider in both modalities is recommended for the best possible outcome.
Hope that answers your question!

Dear RealSelf Admin,
Yes, it is completely safe to have Ellacor if you have a history of herpes simplex or herpes zoster (shingles). If you have an active outbreak in the treatment area, you would likely be advised to wait until it has passed. What you’re reading about is due to Ellacor, like all cosmetic treatments (even injectables), having the potential to aggravate the herpes simplex virus and cause an outbreak. At my practice, we preventatively prescribe Valtrex for our patients who have a history of cold sores (herpes simplex). In the last 9 or 10 months, we have not had any Ellacor patients experience an outbreak. Hope this helps!

Dear Caring1876,

The mechanism in which the plasma pen works in comparison to Ellacor is completely different. Ellacor using micro-coring technology which basically extracts small columns on your skin, as your skin heals, there is a tightening effect.
Every person responds differently to treatments and it is impossible to predict exactly how someone will heal from a treatment. It is very unlikely that you will not have scabs similar to those from the plasma pen. However, there will be tiny red marks that can look like scabs from micro-coring. This usually resolves within 5-7 days, some patients may have some prolonged pink/redness of the skin in treatment areas but that can easily be covered with make up. Hope that answers your question!

Dear HappyDaneSana,Thank you for providing a photo. There are quite a few procedures that you could try to help tighten the skin and improve the overall texture under your eyes. Which procedure is best depends on your lifestyle and the amount of downtime you are up for.
The non-surgical treatment which would provide the greatest improvement would be a CO2 laser. However, this fully ablative laser does come with some downtime (7-10 days) and does tend to give your skin a pink hue for anywhere from 1-6 months. Though it is an easy fix with makeup, some of my patients prefer to do something with less downtime.
One step below the CO2 would be a fractionated CO2. This laser is partially ablative, meaning it leaves some of healthy skin intact. This is a good option for patients down for some downtime but not as much as the CO2. You will still get nice results, especially when done in a series of 3 or more sessions. The initial downtime is about 5-7 days with a pink hue that can last for a couple weeks to a month.
Even less invasive than a fractionated CO2 will be the Potenza. This new RF microneedling system is quickly becoming a personal favorite of mine, particularly for patients that are not ready to commit to a more ablative technology. This treatment, done as a series of 3-6, has a special infusion tip that allows us to infuse PRP and other nutrients all the way up to your waterline, further enhancing the results of the radiofrequency microneedling, building more collagen, and tightening the skin from the inside out.