“I hate my neck, but I don’t want surgery.  The last thing I want is a facelift that makes me look pulled!”

I hear this every day and usually end up recommending a facelift anyway, and patients that choose surgery are not disappointed.  On the contrary, they are usually pleasantly surprised when their neck does disappear, while their face stays the same.  So why is everyone so afraid of facelifts?

The center part of your face is what your friends recognize as “you”.  The shape of your mouth, the position of your nose and the shape of your eyes are your trademark.  If these areas are not distorted with surgery, you continue to look like you – just without your mother’s neck!  Where the problem comes is when surgery attempts to “stretch out” the lines around the mouth or “pick up” the corners of the eyes.  This is something that can technically be accomplished, but the results often look artificial.  If you keep tension away from these key areas, the results of surgery appear natural. 

I am very proud to say that most of my facelift patients love their new necks and jawlines, and are surprised that most of their friends never know they had surgery.  They just look like they lost weight or “toned up”.  And if the lines around your mouth are a concern, addressing them separately with fillers such as Radiesse, Restylane or Juvederm gives a much more natural result then “pulling” them out with surgery. Like most things in life, addressing specific concerns with specific solutions works much better. Rarely does one procedure address all concerns, and we are fortunate to have several tools that can be used in combination to give the most natural appearing results you deserve.  So if you hate your neck, have no fear.  Facelifts are your friend.

So while you wait and plan for larger procedures you can still do little things that make you comfortable and proud of your appearance.

I often hear people say “When I do something, I am going to do everything.  Until then I am saving my money.”  While this sounds like great advice, it really doesn’t make sense for most people who like to look their best.  If you are planning to re-landscape your home in two years, do you stop mowing the lawn and watering the garden?  If you value a beautiful yard, are you going to tolerate a weed patch while you wait for the big make-over?  Not likely.  So while you wait and plan for larger procedures you can still do little things that make you comfortable and proud of your appearance.

Winter is the ideal time to do “maintenance” on your face.  Sun-damaged skin can be improved with IPL and laser treatments (Clear and Brilliant and/or Fractionated CO2 laser treatments), and avoiding the sun during recovery is easy in Oregon during the rainy season.  Injections can smooth out frown-lines and fill wrinkles, providing a wonderful temporary fix if you can’t commit to a more permanent solution.  And even after a well done surgery, skincare and aesthetic treatments protect your investment. 

“Doing everything” can be a very rewarding experience, and facelift patients remain among the most grateful patients I see.  But maintaining your appearance before and after a surgical procedure also keeps a smile on your face.  Doesn’t your car seem a little better after it is washed, or the yard a little more inviting after it is freshly mowed?  Experience that same joy when you look in the mirror following a cosmetic treatment that gives you that little boost.  It is well worth it!

Dr. Magilke is a board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with over 15 years of private practice experience  He is available for personal consultations by calling 503-297-6511.

No more monthly specials – just fair prices for great results from procedures performed by trained professions.  New prices are: 

• 20% off BOTOX Cosmetic/Dysport – no donations required.  The new price will be $12.50/unit for BOTOX Cosmetic and $4/unit for Dysport.  If you purchase 100 units of BOTOX Cosmetic at one time, the price decreases to $11/unit.  For Dysport the price decreases to $3.50/unit if you purchace 300 units at one time. 
• 20% off Radiesse.  The new price will be $599 for the first syringe and $399 for each additional syringe used during the same appointment.
• $550 for the first syringe of Restylane/Juvederm, and $400 for each additional syringe used during the same appointment.
• $1999 for full face Thermage.
• $299 for Clear and Brilliant.
• $100 surgical consultation fee, which is applies to a surgery if you schedule.
• $50 aesthetic consultation fee, which is applies to products or procedures that you purchase that day.

Before and 2 weeks After Facelift

The myth clearly still exists – surgery takes months to recover from, and you need to hide out for the whole summer!

I hear it nearly every day.  “I would love to have a facelift and get rid of my neck, but I cannot take a month off work.”  Or, “My daughter is getting married in 6 weeks, I don’t have time to recover.”

In reality, recovery from surgery is actually pretty quick.  By 2 weeks, nearly everyone is back to their normal routine.  True, some of the final swelling may take months to go away, but you look “normal” at 2 weeks, and often even sooner.  And the best part is you have real results at 2 weeks – your neck is gone!

If you have been considering surgery and worry about time away from the activities you like to do, it is worth coming in for a complimentary consultation to evaluate your options.  Chances are you can make the improvements you desire and be back to your life faster than you ever imagined.  Like many medical myths, the need to hide out for months after cosmetic surgery is no longer true.  And since facelift results today achieve such a natural appearance, reclaiming your jawline is something that can be done discretely without disrupting your lifestyle.

So what is the most important thing about sunscreen?  It needs to be something you will actually wear – EVERY DAY, RAIN OR SHINE!

Ok, we maybe have had 10 days of sun in Oregon in 2011, but summer is coming.  Really.  So do you have your sun screen?  Have you been wearing it all winter long?  Or are you hiding a bikini under your rain coat for the rare chance that you could actually feel the warmth of sunshine on your naked skin.

If you live in a state where it tends to be cloudy and rain frequently, sun protection seems like a waste of time.  Heck, I need some Vitamin D!  However, the true statistics show that Oregon is now among the top six states in the nation in the incidence of the most deadly form of skin cancer – melanoma!  Washington, Idaho, Utah, Vermont and New Hampshire have 50% higher rates of melanoma then the nation as a whole.  Could it be that the sunny states have the good sense to protect themselves, while us mushrooms in the Northwest forget that the sun shines even through the clouds?

In addition to cancers, sun exposure prematurely ages skin.  It increases brown spots, red spots, fine lines and wrinkles.  The “shoe leather” skin you see on retirees by the pool in Palm Springs is the result of years of leaving the sunscreen at home.  Sun damage is one of the main reasons cosmetic procedures for the face are so popular.  Years of tanning can make you look 60 years old when you have not even turned 50 – and that is a big motivator for choosing surgical procedures and laser treatments.  Some people want to look younger, but nobody wants to look older!

So what is the most important thing about sunscreen?  It needs to be something you will actually wear – EVERY DAY, RAIN OR SHINE!  Ideally it will contain a physical barrier like 7% or greater micronized Zinc Oxide.  At Portland Laser and Surgery Center we recommend Epionce Ultra Shield SPF 50+ or Active Shield SPR 30+.  It is available in our clinic, and established patients can also order it online from Epionce.  Whatever your choice, wearing sun protection can delay your need for cosmetic procedures and protect your investment if you have had a procedure.  So bring on the sun – and the sun screen, please!

Which twin is the smoker?

 Cigarette smoking is a major factor in many disease processes, but did you realize how much it affects your appearance?  Smoking ages you!

Every day people come into my office – or pull me aside at a party – and ask “What can I do to look better?”  Since I am a cosmetic surgeon, they are often looking for the inside scoop on the newest procedure or product to reverse the effects of time.  And for many people, surgeries, injections, lasers and products can make a big difference in appearance.  However the advice I give to my friends and family is PREVENTION.  The number one recommendation – Don’t smoke.

While looking on the internet recently I came across a great article on WebMD (click here for link)  It shows photos of identical twins – one who smoked and one who did not.  The differences are not subtle.  The non-smokers have less wrinkles, fewer eyelid bags, better skin, … They no longer look identical, and the smokers often look like older sisters.  These are the photos to show teenagers who are experimenting with smoking – smoking is clearly not glamorous.

So while it is very rewarding for me as a surgeon to help patients look their best now, I know that lifestyle ultimately effects your overall appearance.  Making good health decisions help you live longer and look better – and the evidence is very clear.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Dance is beauty in motion.  It expresses emotions without a single word.  It is the ultimate visual art. And when seen live, it is an event that is unique and can never be exactly duplicated again.  As an audience member, you are transported and swept up in the feelings of the movement. You close your eyes and envision yourself moving with effortless grace across the stage.  Your aging body is now powerful and strong, and beautiful beyond words.  For a brief time your thoughts are not consumed by the cares of the day – you are just enjoying.

As a facial plastic surgeon, I cannot help but love dance.  For over ten years I have had the pleasure of serving on the board of directors for Whitebird Dance.  We present modern dance in Portland, Oregon.  It is a non-profit organization that truly holds a charitable mission.  The arts so often get left behind, particularly in a weak economy.  Many view art as a luxury that can be done without when times are tough.  However, in my mind it is the tough times when art is most needed.

Our office places a high importance of giving back to the community and we contribute monthly to foster children, homeless shelters, medical relief, …  I also contribute to the arts.  Many charities assist others to live life, where as the arts help make life worth living.  If you have a chance to see modern dance – or any live dance performance – I highly recommend it.  And remember that ticket sales rarely cover the costs of presenting the performances.  Contributions from donors allow dance companies to survive and present their visions to the public.  It is important to me to support the dream, so my children can sit in my seat in years to come, and experience the joys I have felt.  If you can, please support the arts.

KGW Channel 8 News Crew

Whether it is your neighbors you see on your morning walk, the clerk at the grocery store, or the audience you address during your morning presentation, we all are public figures to some degree or another.

Yesterday I was interviewed by the local news station for two upcoming stories.  In Oregon, unemployment continues to be a concern and we discussed a new trend of men and women choosing to have cosmetic surgery to improve their chances of getting a job.  We also discussed procedures that can improve your appearance without missing any work.  The interview had been scheduled last week, but when the time came yesterday to stand in front of the camera I was nervous.  Everyone is going to see this!  Is my hair combed? Did I brush my teeth? Is my lab jacket clean? … Remember to stand up straight, don’t stutter, ….

The interviews came and went.  The crew was really nice and said “I was a pro.  Not nervous at all.”  And as I reflect back today, I realize that I really am a professional.  Every day I meet new people and discuss cosmetic surgery.  Whether it is a private appointment, a seminar or a television interview – I am on stage.  My life is public.  The nervous preparations I made for my TV appearance should be part of my daily ritual, because every day I am “presenting” to someone.

The interesting thing is, this is the same situation for everyone.  Whether it is your neighbors you see on your morning walk, the clerk at the grocery store, or the audience you address during your morning presentation, we all are public figures to some degree or another.  We also all have the opportunity to “prepare” for our appearances.  I know doing everything I could think of to “make me look good on camera” helped me to be relax and be myself.  I am not sure I want to shave on Sunday morning before dashing to the store for my morning coffee, but I definitely think taking care of yourself makes you feel and look better.  Cosmetic procedures – whether they are Botox injections, medical grade skincare or surgical operations – also can help prepare you for your public life.  I guess that is why I continue to be proud of what I do for a living – and why patients appreciate what we do.  We are all professionals whether we realize it or not, and being prepared makes looking back on the day before a pleasure.

Click on Text to read survey results

As I was reading through the online magazines I receive, this survey result caught my eye. I have always thought of cosmetic procedures as something you do for yourself. They are things you want, but don’t necessarily need. However, it appears European women would disagree. Cosmetic procedures are clearly a priority in many European countries, and women are sacrificing to fulfill their cosmetic needs. The United States tends to follow European fashions, and I have to admit many patients consider Botox treatments right up there with getting their hair dyed or mowing the lawn. No matter what the economy does, Botox treatments go on!  It would be interesting to do a similar survey in the United States.  We might find that with that the cultural differences between Europe and America are no longer very distinct, due to ease of travel and the internet. I will keep watching for an American version of the same survey, and keep you posted.