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Archive for August, 2013

The Real Deal on Wrinkles Revealed

treating wrinklesWrinkles and creases in our skin are expected as we age, but the wide range of anti-aging creams and lotions are also proof that both men and women are very interested in delaying or stopping the signs of aging. After treating almost 20,000 patients while in practice at his Chester clinic, Dr. Larry Weinstein has developed a skin care program which includes New Jersey facial fillers that will surely leave you satisfied and happy with the results.

Aside from strictly adhering to a skin care regimen similar to that of Dr. Weinstein’s, you might also want to know the real deal on anything wrinkle-related. Read on below.

Trace Your Family Tree

Like almost every health condition, wrinkles are also associated with genetics. By looking at your parents and grandparents, you can already have a little peek into your skin’s future – the degree, depth and onset of your creases, folds and lines. If you notice that some of your family members are prone to premature aging, you might want to start slathering on your broad-spectrum sunscreen now. Don’t forget to consistently apply a generous amount even when you’re indoors.

Sleeping Position Matters a Lot

Sleeping on the same side every night may accelerate wrinkle development. When you lie down on the same side of your face almost every bed time, that portion gets repeatedly smashed up against your bed or pillow. Creases and lines will most likely occur from this frequent sleeping position due to your collagen and connective tissues losing strength as you get older.

Beyond Sun Damage

Forehead creases and frown lines may indicate more than just sun damage. The creases between your eyes may suggest vision problems. If you find yourself squinting often, you might want to visit an eye specialist and have your visual acuity checked. Early detection and treatment of visual problems will also soften the appearance of frown lines as the muscles between your eyes will start to relax.

It’s In What You Eat (And Drink!)

Loading up on food rich in antioxidants is a huge favor you can do for your skin. Apart from delaying the development of wrinkles, anti-aging food sources will also help your skin glow and stay supple. The plumper your skin, the less apparent your wrinkles. The next time you want to grab something for a snack, have a bowl of raspberries or blueberries.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Sculptra, Juvederm and Radiesse can also help you ward off the appearance of wrinkles. Contact Dr. Weinstein today to learn more about these fillers and how it can naturally make your look younger and healthier.

How Much Sleep Do You Need for Younger-Looking Skin

effects of sleep on skin appearanceIt’s not called beauty rest for nothing and science seems to agree. The findings of a recent research by physician scientists at the University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center revealed that poor sleep quality could actually weaken the skin’s ability to repair itself. Hence, individuals with poor quality of sleep tend to exhibit advanced signs of skin aging. Here at our New Jersey plastic surgery practice, we encourage our clients to take care of their skin both from the inside and out, which includes getting high quality sleep.

Phases of Sleep
Sleep is your body’s way of recovering from all the work it did during the day. To improve your quality of sleep, it is also crucial that you understand the different phases of sleep.

Deep and Light Sleep – are the two phases that simultaneously occur during the first few hours of sleep. During these phases, your brain’s neurons slow down while growth hormones are at its peak for muscle tissue repair. Your immune system is also trying to recover around this time.

REM Sleep – Short term memories are consolidated and transferred to your long-term memory banks. This phase largely influences your ability to focus the next day.

Do Length and Timing Matter?
You’ve probably heard about the 8-hour requirement for a good night’s sleep. It turns out that this is actually just a myth. A study published in this Time article found out that people who sleep between 6.5 and 7.5 hours a night are actually happier, more productive, and live the longest. Interestingly, those who sleep longer tend to suffer from depression, obesity, and heart disease.

The key lesson from such findings is to actually observe how many hours of sleep make you feel refreshed the next day. Also, once you notice that you’re nodding off at 9pm , hit the sack, and do not just shake of that “sleepy” feeling.

To arrange your initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein and learn more about ways to help your skin look youthful, get in touch with us at our Chester Clinic by calling us at (908)879.2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Circumstances That May Call for a Bit of Nip and Tuck

plastic surgery procedures to improve appearanceEveryone wants to look their best and there are a few situations in life where a bit of nip and tuck could be very beneficial. Our plastic surgery practice, headed by New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Larry Weinstein, is devoted to rejuvenating and enhancing your natural beauty using state-of-the-art procedures. Your beautiful, natural results will make you look better and feel more confident about your appearance!

The following are the most common situations which call for a bit of nip and tuck.

Age is Just a Number
While age is certainly just a number, one can’t help but notice the physical toll that it does to your face and body. Wrinkles may appear and extra pockets of stubborn fat may stay despite eating clean and regular physical activity. If that’s the case, cosmetic surgery may help — from a facelift to liposuction to a thigh lift.

Beauty After Baby
Having a baby is probably one of the most memorable moments for a woman. Yet, pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to certain physical changes in a woman’s body such as sagging breasts, the appearance of stretch marks, and loose abdominal skin. Majority of post-childbirth women find themselves stuck with such physical changes even after trying diet and exercise. Dr. Weinstein recommends a Mommy Makeover, a set of procedures geared towards improving a woman’s physique post-pregnancy. The most common procedures in a Mommy Makeover include a breast augmentation/lift, tummy tuck, butt lift, and liposuction.

Life Changes
Sometimes, you could use a bit of nip or tuck when you’re about to apply for a job, tie the knot, or move to a new city or country. Plastic surgery could help you add more zest and confidence to these important life events.

Social Media Influence
There’s no doubt about social media as one of the factors today which influence individuals to have plastic surgery. Who wants to have wrinkles and fine lines appearing on one’s Facebook profile photo? No one, right? Hence the birth of cosmetic procedures such as the FaceTime facelift.

To arrange your initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein and learn more about New Jersey cosmetice procedures, get in touch with us at our Chester Clinic by calling us at (908)879.2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Plastic Surgery Options for Maximum Burn Recovery

Burn victims may suffer from loss of sensation, impaired mobility function or a disfigured appearance. For patients wanting to go back to their normal activities and living as much as possible, exploring several plastic surgery options might greatly benefit them.

Dr. Larry Weinstein of the Weinstein Plastic Surgery Center provides excellent New Jersey burn care for maximum recovery amongst victims. If the burned portion of your body is severely wounded, Dr. Weinstein may have to do a débridement – removal of dead skin tissues prior to plastic surgery.

These are the two plastic surgery options commonly sought after by patients from Dr. Weinstein.

Skin Grafting

Skin grafting by Dr. Weinstein involves the removal of skin from one area of the body and the transfer to another portion afterwards. Skin grafting in burn cases often comes in two kinds: split-thickness and full-thickness grafts. The former only involves the outer layer of the skin while the latter involves the entire dermis region.

A skin-cutting instrument called the dermatone is used to harvest skin from the donor site, often in the buttocks and inner thigh regions. Once completely removed, the harvested skin is then attached to the burnt region, held in place by several stitches and a sterile dressing. The donor site is also covered with dressings to avoid infection.

The recovery period for a split thickness graft is relatively fast, approximately 2 to 3 weeks. On the other hand, patients who undergo full thickness grafting may take longer to recover. Apart from being utilized in burn cases, skin grafting is also used in other cosmetic surgeries such as nose and breast reconstruction.

Tissue Expansion

By making use of a “balloon expander”, the damaged skin tissues of burn victims can be reconstructed. For the entire duration of the procedure, this balloon will be gradually filled with salt water (saline solution) until the skin stretches and grows. Once enough skin tissue has been regenerated and grown, Dr. Weinstein may then use the extra tissue to reconstruct the damaged portion.

An average tissue expansion procedure takes around 4 months. One of its advantages is how it can mimic one’s skin color and texture. Scarring is also rare since there is no skin removal involved.

If you’ve suffered from burns, feel fee to contact Dr. Weinstein about your plastic surgery options.

How to Quickly Recover from Your New Jersey Liposuction

Quickly recover from your LiposuctionThe speed of your New Jersey liposuction recovery is influenced by several factors such as your overall health, the surgical method used, your surgeon’s skills, and the volume of fat suctioned. While some of these factors are beyond your control, you can increase your comfort level and increase your chances of a quick recovery by following certain principles. We list them down below for you!

– You will most likely be asked by your surgeon to stay overnight after the procedure. Your pain score will be continuously assessed around this time.

– Swelling is a very common occurrence following liposuction, particularly 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Compression garments would be very helpful in reducing swelling by improving blood circulation and get rid of potentially dangerous fluids in your body. Dr. Weinstein will provide you with instructions on taking care of compression garments. If you think that your compression garment is too tight, inform Dr. Weinstein about it right away.

– Swelling, bruising and numbness are quite common after liposuction and will most likely resolve in a week or two. It is very important that you take enough rest during the first week. However, it is also important that you take tiny steps and try to slowly walk around as soon as you are able. Inactivity is heavily discouraged as this could lead to blood clot formation.

– Lifting, bending over, and straining should be avoided post-surgery. You will be able to return to moderate physical activities in 2 to 3 weeks after liposuction.

Follow-Up Visits After Your New Jersey Liposuction

Apart from strictly following Dr. Weinstein’s post-surgery instructions, it is also very crucial that you return to his clinic for follow-up visits with the prescribed intervals. Keep in mind that your relationship with your liposuction surgeon doesn’t end after surgery. It is best to keep in touch with your doctor from time to time following liposuction and have your progress checked.

To arrange your initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein and learn more about New Jersey liposuction, get in touch with us at our Chester Clinic by calling us at (908)879.2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Iron Out Neck Wrinkles with a New Jersey Neck Lift!

Iron out neck wrinkles with a neck liftThe earliest signs of aging manifest themselves in the neck – from fatty jowls to turkey wattles to crepey, discolored skin. Dr. Larry Weinstein recommends a New Jersey neck lift for clients wanting to tighten the skin around the neck as well as lift its underlying muscles. A neck lift, also known as platysmaplasty, can either be a stand-alone procedure or done in conjunction with a face lift.

Pre-Surgery: Things to Consider

Apart from aging, other factors which can contribute to extreme neck sagging include dramatic weight loss and genetic influences. Dr. Weinstein will thoroughly assess your current status to make sure if a New Jersey platysmaplasty is right for you.

By and large, the best candidates include those who are in excellent health condition, non-smokers, and have excellent skin elasticity. It is also best for the client to have realistic expectations. Before the surgery, Dr. Weinstein may also order a series of lab tests to confirm your current health status. It is essential for you to stop taking herbal remedies and anti-inflammatory drugs two weeks before the surgery. These substances could increase bleeding during the procedure.

More Natural and Relaxed

Dr. Weinstein will gently and carefully lift your neck skin into a more youthful look. Since the latest techniques are utilized, you will be assured of a more “natural and relaxed” apperance in the outcome. At the Weinstein Plastic Surgery Center, an “overpulled look” is so last season. To achieve your own cosmetic goals, Dr. Weinstein may also perform other procedures such as liposuction of neck and fat deposits.

Possible Risks and Complications

All surgical procedures come with risks. Below are the associated risks with neck lifts:

1. Excessive bleeding and/or blood clot formation
2. Loss or changes in sensation
3. Skin discoloration and/or irregularities in skin contour
4. Persistent swelling
5. Infection
6. Visible scarring as a result of poor neck reconstruction techniques

Recovery

After the procedure, Dr. Weinstein will wrap a sterile pressure dressing around your neck and the chin area. You may feel tightness around your neck but will certainly disappear in a few hours as the anesthesia wears off. Possible swelling and bruising may occur during the first 3 days after surgery. You can expect for the dressings to be removed in 7-10 days.

For more information on how to iron out your neck wrinkles, contact Dr. Weinstein today!

Plastic Surgery Trends 2013: Silicone Breast Implants Becoming More Popular

Plastic surgery trends 2013 Silicon breast implants becoming more popularA recent report in The Wall Street Journal revealed that the use of silicone in breast augmentation has grown exponentially over the years since its re-approval by the FDA 6 years ago. In 2012, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that 72 percent of all breast augmentation cases in the country employed silicone implants. For residents of New Jersey and New York Metro area, Dr. Larry Weinstein is their trusted New Jersey breast augmentation surgeon using silicone implants.

New Silicone Implant Approved
As of February 20, 2013, the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant is officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for breast augmentation and reconstruction. Natrelle, the 4th silicone implant approved by FDA, is currently manufactured by Allergan, Inc.

According to its manufacturer, the Natrelle implants contain more cross-linking (more bonds linking one silicone chain to the other) than its earlier counterparts, thus making the newly-approved implant firmer. The FDA approval was a result of a series of studies for 7 years which looked at 941 women using Natrelle 410 implants.

Significant Improvement Over the Years
The report further stated that the implants are very useful in breast reconstructions surgeries, particularly following a single-side mastectomy when there is a need to match the original shape of the patient’s remaining breast tissues.

To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Weinstein concerning silicone implants, get in touch with us at our Chester Clinic by calling us at (908)879.2222 or by filling out this contact form. Make an appointment today and experience the life changing effects of plastic surgery!

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Dr. Weinstein

Treating carpal Tunnel SyndromeWe have heard much about the prevention and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) for year nows. However, information on how to treat the musculoskeletal disorder is often left out of the conversation. With both males and females equally affected, hand function loss can be treated through surgery, several non-surgical alternatives, or a combination of both. Dr. Larry Weinstein performs several New York hand surgeries, one of which is aimed at treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of CTS include:

1. numbness and tingling of one’s fingers
2. chronic pain in the thumb area which can extend as far as your neck
3. unusual range in temperature and/or touch senstation
4. burning sensation from wrist to fingers
5. inflammation in the hands and/or forearm
6. stiffness of fingers early in the morning

Who’s at Risk?

CTS is primarily a result of increased pressure of the median nerve which passes through the wrist’s carpal tunnel formed by bone and ligament. Your median nerve carries nerve impulses from the brain down to your hands.

Individuals who are at risk of CTS include those who work for jobs involving repeated movements of the hands and fingers for long periods of time. For the past decades, the disorder has been greatly reported amongst jack hammer operators, assembly line workers, housewives and athletes. With the advent of technology and highly specialized jobs, CTS has greatly increased amongst workers who frequently use personal computers.

Treatment with Dr. Weinstein

Mild symptoms with CTS are treated with resting hands, fingers and wrist. Anti-inflammatory drugs and wrist splints are also taken into consideration. However, moderate to severe signs may need to be remedied with surgery. Dr. Weinstein takes extra care in preparing and performing surgeries in treating CTS.

To be able to access the tissue causing pressure into the median nerve, Dr. Weinstein makes an incision in your palm down to your wrist. He will then remove the tissue, or a section of it, to relieve pain and nerve pressure as well as restore hand function. To promote healing while temporarily restricting motion, a large dressing and a splint may be employed. Scarring will be less noticeable when proper wound care is applied. Surgical outcomes may vary depending on the extent of nerve damage.

If you’re interested in finding out your surgical options in treating carpal tunnel syndrome, visit Dr. Weinstein today for a personal consultation.

Bitchy resting face’ is real (kind of). But there’s hope

The concept of “bitchy resting face” may have started off as a joke, but ever since the video went live – garnering more than 2 million hits on the comedy site Funny or Die and YouTube – scores of women have come forward to own up to the “disorder.”

Actress Anna Paquin of True Blood bemoaned her “BRF” during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week, saying that despite being happy and satisfied with her life, her default face makes her look like she “wants to kill people.” Jezebel’s Kristine Gutierrez, on the other hand, celebrated her “chronic bitch face,” proclaiming “it’s not my responsibility to be everyone’s sunshine.”

“I need to print this on business cards so I can hand it out to people who stop me and ask why I’m unhappy or angry or tell me to smile on a daily basis,” one commenter wrote in response to the video.
Written by journalist and comedian Taylor Orci, the short video was created as a parody of commercials for seemingly pseudo medical disorders. But does bitchy resting face – and its male equivalent, “a**hole resting face” — actually exist?

Absolutely, says Michigan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn.
“Bitchy resting face is a definite phenomenon that plastic surgeons like myself have described, just never with that term,” he says. “Basically many of us have features that we inherit and/or develop with age that can make us look unpleasant, grumpy, or even, yes, bitchy.”

Youn says many plastic surgeons perform what he calls “expression surgeries,” procedures meant to improve resting facial expressions. “One procedure I perform in the grin lift, used to turn a permanent frown upside down,” he says. “As we age, some of us – myself included – find that the corners of our mouths droop, giving us a grumpy look. This is usually present with a resting face.”

Aside from a downturned mouth, what makes a face look angry or bitchy?
Youn quickly points to the deep vertical lines between eyebrows (often referred to as 11s) as another culprit that can produce an angry or unhappy vibe. Droopy or overly arched eyebrows can also work to create a wrong impression.

He estimates that he performs about 20 “grin lifts” in a year as well as 100 filler procedures to turn up the corners of the mouth. Botox injections to relax those vertical “11s” are much more prevalent. “I probably do 1,500 of those Botox procedures a year,” he says. “We do a lot. We’re very busy with that.”

While age can enhance our grumpy features, Youn says genetics also play a role in a person’s “resting face.”

Julianne Barclay, a 47-year-old stay-at-home mom from Vancouver, Wash., readily admits to having a “bitchy resting face” – which she attributes to her Norwegian roots – and says she’s passed it along to her daughter.

“We’ve always joked about our resting faces looking like bitchy faces,” she says. “Sometimes it works in our favor as a natural deterrent to people we’d rather not deal with. But most of the time we laugh, thinking of all the potential friends who got away because we had ‘bitch’ written all over our faces.”

Youn says fillers, Botox and procedures like grin lifts can all help people counteract a bad case of BRF. But simply training yourself to smile more also works.

Ann-Marie Stillion, a communication strategist and artist from Seattle, says she’s recently made an effort to wear a smile when in public after having her resting face repeatedly misinterpreted by strangers, friends, and colleagues. “I look mad when I am thinking which has gotten me in a whole lot of trouble,” she says. “So, I smile a lot now, not because I’m so happy but because I know it makes people more comfortable. It’s good for your face, too.”

Stillion says part of her hates having to paste on a grin whenever she leaves the house because of the deeper cultural implications. “Culturally, women are not allowed to be thoughtful and serious,” she says. “And it’s also a cultural imperative that women are expected to smile and make men happy. It’s like our ‘job’.” Despite the annoyance of appeasing creepy dudes who expect women to “Smile!” on command, she admits the way we present ourselves to others is crucial.

“I feel like I have a stupid smile,” she says. “But I do employ it now, especially when I’m engaged with new people. If I think they may be intimidated, I slap on a smile and it makes a whole lot of difference. It’s good to be mindful of what you’re projecting to other people. And it’s good to smile, to give other people warmth.”

Just don’t go too far. You might end up with the same condition Anna Paquin says her husband and co-star Stephen Moyer suffers from: “happy resting face.” Dr. Weinstein “Botox and fillers with a liquid face lift can make an immediate difference with little or no down time”.

How Scars are Formed and How Scarfix Can Help

How scars are formed and how Scarfix can helpScars, whether large or small, are almost always unwanted. No one wants to have them around. But scars are actually a result of wound healing – humans and some animals often replace the skin lost in wounds through a scar rather than a new identical skin tissue. Dr. Larry Weinstein brings his deftness, experience and extraordinary attention to details when it comes to reducing scar appearance through a New Jersey Scarfix derma-repair treatment.

Scar Formation

Damage to your dermis, the deep, thicker layer of your skin, will produce new collagen fibers to mend the resulting wound from the trauma. The collagen fibers will turn into a new scar tissue, exhibiting new texture and quality than the surrounding skin.

Scar Strength

Your scar tissue will never be as strong as the normal skin tissue surrounding it. For the next 3 to 4 weeks following trauma, the scar could be easily reopened by another trauma. On its 6th week, it will most likely achieve half of its final strength. For the next 12 months, it will regain strength to withstand mild to moderate injury. However, it will never attain the same strength as that of its surrounding skin.

Scar Appearance

Collagen production is the primary mechanism which drives scar tissue formation. Maximum collagen production is achieved during the first 4 to 6 weeks until the wound closes down. Around this time, the scar will appear red, firm and slightly raised. It may usually take a year for the scar to finally “settle down” and achieve its final appearance.

Scar Treatments

There are different forms of treatments in reducing the appearance of scars. These types include:

1. Surgery – this form of treatment will not remove the scar but could significantly reduce its appearance and make it less noticeable. However, surgery is not recommended for hypertrophic scars as they may recur.
2. Steroid and filler injections – are employed to allow hypertrophic scars to flatten and soften their appearance.
3. Dermabrasion – is very useful in cases of hypertrophic scars. The technique removes the superficial portion of the skin
4. Radiotherapy – is used in extreme cases of keloid scarring.
5. Topical treatments – may reduce the appearance of scars with consistent use.

Dr. Weinstein offers Scarfix™, a derma-repair treatment for scars resulting from wounds, surgery, burns, cysts of acne, etc. Scarfix™ prevents hypertrophy and keloids. Scarfix™ gel can also be used in skin repair treatment for roseola and recent stretch marks. Contact him today for an initial consultation by calling 908-879-2222.

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