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Archive for December, 2020

Get silky smooth skin with laser hair removal

If you’re tired of plucking, shaving and waxing, then you should consider laser hair removal to help you achieve smooth skin before the summer months. Imagine wearing your bikini, shorts and dresses and not having to worry about daily shaving. Read on to learn more about laser hair removal and why you should be getting it done now.

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal removes unwanted hair by using a highly concentrated light into hair follicles. Pigment in the hair follicles absorbs the light, which destroys the hair.

Where can laser hair removal be done?

The most common areas on the body where laser hair removal is done include the legs, underarms, arms, bikini line, face, chin and back.

How do I prepare for treatment?

You will need to avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after treatment, as sun exposure makes treatment less effective. Before your first treatment, you should limit waxing, plucking and electrolysis for about six weeks. Why? Waxing and plucking removes the root of hair, which is what the laser targets.

How can I expect during treatment?

Hair in the treatment area will be trimmed back. A topical numbing medicine may be applied before the treatment to help with the slight sting of the laser. The technician will use a cold gel or cooling device to help the laser light penetrate the skin and destroy the hair follicle.

What is recovery like?

After the treatment, you may use ice packs or anti-inflammatory creams to help ease any discomfort. Your skin will feel and look as if it’s sunburned for the next day or two.

How many treatments will I need?

You will need to space your treatments 4-6 weeks apart. This is because you are only able to successfully treat hair that is in the active growth phase. That’s why now is a good time to get started on a treatment plan, just in time for warm weather months.

If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal and whether you are a candidate for treatment, schedule a consultation by calling (908) 879-2222.

New Year, New You: A Mommy Makeover

As you ring in the New Year, you may be making resolutions for self-care and self-improvement. That’s why now may be the time to consider a Mommy Makeover. Read on to learn more about this popular surgery that can address multiple concerns in one surgical setting.

What it is

Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding can do a number on a woman’s body. Sagging breasts, excess stubborn fat and loose skin are the three major concerns women have after having children. What’s great about a Mommy Makeover is that it’s an all-in-one surgery that combines multiple procedures in one. This is safer and more convenient as it means only one recovery period rather than multiple surgeries and recovery periods.

Combination of procedures

A Mommy Makeover is customized to fit each patient’s needs. The most common procedures include a breast lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction and facial rejuvenation.

Breast enhancement will help women address the loss of elasticity, firmness and shape of their breasts due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. A breast augmentation will change the size and shape of the breasts using implants. A breast lift will help reshape and lift sagging breasts. Women who have abnormally large breasts may opt for a breast reduction to help alleviate chronic pain in the neck and back, reduce skin irritations and improve posture.

A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles stretched during pregnancy and childbirth and removes excess skin. Liposuction removes those stubborn fat pockets in various areas of the body that resist diet and exercise, giving you a more contoured, slimmer appearance.

Sometimes smoothing and tightening the sagging skin on the face are desired as well. Facial rejuvenation may consist of a neck lift, jowl lift or eyelid surgery to address tired-looking eyes.

The ideal candidate for a Mommy Makeover will be done having children and breastfeeding, has lost as much of her pregnancy weight as possible before surgery, and has waited at least six months after giving birth to her last child. If you’re done with childbearing and longing for your pre-pregnancy body, schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein by calling (908) 879-2222.

Plastic Surgeon Larry Weinstein ’75 Restores Hope, Renews Lives in Underserved India

Larry Weinstein ’75 considers himself hyper-vigilant—a quality that has served him well in 30 years of practicing medicine.

As a pre-med student majoring in psychology, he was keenly aware of his surroundings at all times. “Personal safety and community awareness are important to me,” says the renowned plastic surgeon, speaking by phone from his office in Chester, New Jersey. “At Syracuse, I was a member of the University Senate, and paid close attention to drug and alcohol abuse. Still do. I like to know where everybody is, especially my friends, and that they are OK.”

Weinstein’s concern for others is apparent in his private practice, in which he has treated more than 30,000 patients, and in underserved communities in India, where he has performed thousands of surgeries, free of charge.

Such compassion has yielded a string of accolades, including the prestigious In Chul Song Award for Philanthropic Service from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. No surprise that Castle Connolly Medical, publisher of the acclaimed “Top Doctors” book series, has recognized Weinstein nationally and regionally every year for the past decade. He also is honored to be included in Inside Jersey magazine’s annual roundup of the state’s Top Doctors.

Nevertheless, people are surprised to learn that Weinstein did not go to an American medical school. An ongoing interest in Spanish, which began at P.S. 208, The Elsa Ebeling School, in Brooklyn and continued at Syracuse, eventually took him south of the border.

“I think I got the highest grade possible on my final exam for ‘Organic Chemistry II,’ which was one of Syracuse’s most difficult pre-med courses,” says the Brooklyn native. “Although I probably would have liked to have gone to med school in the United States, I was fortunate for the opportunity to immerse myself in Spanish.”

After graduation, Weinstein made his way to western Mexico, where he enrolled in the School of Medicine at the University of Guadalajara—the oldest private medical school and the oldest private university, respectively, in the country. By dint of hard work and perseverance, he earned an M.D. in 1979. That all of his coursework, including labs and lectures, was in Spanish only adds to the significance of this feat.

Upon returning to the United States, Weinstein embarked on a series of residencies throughout the Northeast, including ones at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University Medical Center. It was during rigorous plastic surgery training at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center that he befriended Sharad Kumar Dicksheet, an Indian-born, American plastic surgeon. As founder of The India Project, Dicksheet organized pro bono surgical missions to India. His impact on Weinstein was swift and intense.

“[Dicksheet] literally wouldn’t stop to eat or go to the bathroom when performing surgeries,” Weinstein says of his mentor, who was wheelchair-bound and did not have a larynx. “It is estimated that he performed more than 100,000 free surgeries in India before his death [in 2011]. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize six times.”

In 1988, Weinstein opened a private practice in Chester Woods Professional Park, situated among the green, rolling hills of historic Chester. His warm, affable personality, combined with a skilled, conservative approach to treatment, has made his practice a leader in cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery.

While Weinstein has garnered a cult-like following throughout the Tri-State Area, he has a larger fan-base in India, which he has visited 15 times since 1993. Most of his trips are several weeks long, and take place in large, sprawling cities, such as Pune and Nagpur, where public health care is overburdened or virtually nonexistent.

At first, Weinstein treated only a few hundred people per visit. He eventually brought along two other plastic surgeons and a half dozen surgical specialists to boost capacity. During his latest trip, Weinstein saw more than 870 people in one week. (“We worked from nine in the morning to nine at night, and didn’t take breaks, except for the occasional cup of chai tea,” he says.) Most of his patients were children with facial defects, caused by genetic problems, environmental issues or lack of proper nutrition during pregnancy.

“These kids often are ostracized from their communities, and cannot attend school, hold down a job or get married,” Weinstein says, adding that iron deficiency, anemia and infections account for many of the deformities. “We fix a lot of bilateral and unilateral clefts because the Indian healthcare system is overburdened with acute injury problems, which take priority over congenital cleft-lip treatments. We also open eyelids, mend deformed ears and smooth scars and burns.”

Weinstein recalls a trip to Hubballi, a large industrial city in southern India, where he treated a boy with a cleft lip. Two years later, his parents came to see Weinstein, and presented him with a school photo of their son. “He looked so handsome. I shared his photos with my colleagues,” he beams.

One thing Weinstein has learned is that plastic surgery is not always about vanity. In fact, the many breast augmentations, tummy tucks and facelifts he performs allow him to donate his time to helping India’s impoverished communities.

Congenital problems (e.g., cleft lips and palates), burns, hand injuries and cancer-causing defects may represent the less glamorous side of Weinstein’s work, but he considers them vitally important. He also knows they require the special atraumatic techniques of a plastic surgeon.

“You’d be amazed at how many patients, especially older ones, are stigmatized or ignored by society,” says Weinstein, who, in his quest for beauty, also is an avid gardener. “It’s gratifying to make someone feel youthful or sexy again.”

Weinstein explains how people in the West sometimes drop tens of thousands of dollars on “magical machine treatments” to make themselves look younger, but then realize that the only magic involved was the disappearance of their money.

He is particularly proud of his gentle, rejuvenative procedures that remove jowls, restore necklines and instill confidence.

“A facelift with SMAS [superficial muscular aponeurotic system, which is an area of musculature of the face] in the hands of a skilled surgeon can help restore a more natural-looking, youthful appearance,” says Weinstein, who has performed face-lifts on men and women from North Carolina and New Jersey to England, the Ukraine and Russia.

Weinstein credits the College of Arts and Sciences for instilling in him the virtues of hard work and good citizenship. He also learned how to collect, analyze and interpret data—skills that prepared him for medical school, and have come in handy throughout his career. It was in the Department of Psychology that Weinstein was exposed to the work of B.F. Skinner, whose theory of operant conditioning (in which behavior is controlled by consequences) fired his imagination. “Syracuse helped me develop my research and analytical skills. It showed me the importance of scientific literacy, regardless of one’s career path,” Weinstein says.

He also is proud of his recent induction into James Madison High School’s “Wall of Distinction,” which includes Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

“I was not a straight ‘A’ student, but I’ve worked hard,” Weinstein adds. “I also have surrounded myself with good people, who have inspired me. It’s my turn to give back.”

The aesthetic and functional benefits of a nose surgery

Also known as rhinoplasty, nose surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. There are many reasons why someone wants to change the appearance of their nose, but there are also functional reasons why nose surgery may be advised. Read on to learn more about the many benefits of nose surgery and who makes a good candidate for surgery.

What is nose surgery?

Nose surgery changes the shape of the nose to fit a patient’s desires. Often, a patient wants to reduce the size of the nose, narrow enlarged nostrils, change the shape of the tip or remove a hump on the bridge.

Often, if a nose has been deformed due to trauma or as a result of a birth defect, nose surgery is indicated to help with the appearance as well as the structural problems to help improve breathing.

How is it performed?

Usually performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with or without sedation, nose surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. The surgery itself takes about 1-2 hours. To start, an incision is made at the base of the nose or inside the nostrils. The bone and cartilage are sculpted into shape. Wide nostrils are made smaller by removing small wedges on the skin from the base to bring the nostrils closer together.

If a patient has a hump on the bridge of the nose, a chisel will remove the hump. If the tip of the nose needs to be reshaped, cartilage in the tip is trimmed. The septum is also trimmed at this time, if necessary.

After surgery, a splint is placed to help the nose maintain its new shape. The splint will be removed after one or two weeks, when a smaller splint is applied.

Who is a good candidate for surgery?

There are many criteria that you and Dr. Weinstein will discuss during the initial consultation. First, it’s important that you are done growing, as your face continues to grow into your mid-teens. Otherwise, the results may be impaired by further facial growth.

It’s important that you are in good physical health and a non-smoker. Having realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery is key as well.

If you are interested in learning more about nose surgery and whether you are a good candidate for the procedure, call (908) 879-2222 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

Why eye procedures are gaining in popularity

Surgical and non-surgical rejuvenation of the eye area has been popular for several years, but with the often-mandated use of masks today to prevent the spread of COVID-19, more and more people are requesting procedures to improve the appearance of their eye area. Here is a look at the surgical and non-surgical procedures that can help.

Eyelid surgery

As we age, fat tends to accumulate around the eyes, the muscles weaken and the skin stretches, making us look tired and older than we actually are. Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery consists of removing excess skin, muscle and fat from the lower eyelids, upper eyelids, or both. This procedure can correct drooping or hooding of the upper eyelids, and remove puffy bags below the eyes.

Usually performed under local anesthesia, eyelid surgery takes 1-3 hours depending on the extent of surgery. Upper eyelid surgery often consists of making an incision along the natural crease of your eyelid, removing or repositioning muscle and removing excess fat. Sagging skin and excess muscle is trimmed. For lower eyelid surgery, incisions are made at the lower lash line and excess fat is removed and skin tightened. Incisions are closed with fine sutures and lubricated with ointment and bandaged.

Botox

The most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the world, Botox is an FDA-approved biological toxin for moderate to severe forehead furrows, frown lines (known as “11” lines between the eyebrows) and crow’s feet (lines around the eyes). It can also treat dynamic wrinkles of the lower face as well. Dynamic wrinkles are wrinkled caused by muscles that contract while frowning, smiling, squinting or puckering. Botox injections work by temporarily blocking the muscle from contracting to form the wrinkle.

Botox is popular because treatment is safe, done in minutes, with minimal or no pain, and no downtime. You can resume your normal activities once you leave the office. In 2-3 days, you will see your results, with peak effect at 41 days after injection. Results generally last 3-6 months. Continued treatment can help prevent muscular function that causes wrinkles.

If you’re interested in learning more about rejuvenating the appearance of your eye area or other areas of your face, call our office today at (908) 879-2222 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

How to smooth out lines and wrinkles in minutes

So often patients believe they have to go under the knife to achieve a rejuvenated appearance. Cosmetic injectables can offer youthful results in minutes with virtually no downtime, and they can be used to maximize surgical results as well. But which one is best to tackle your concerns? Here are the differences between Botox and dermal fillers.

Botox and Dysport

Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment available. It safely and effectively erases fine lines and wrinkles called dynamic wrinkles. These form in the skin when a muscle contracts from making a facial expression such as frowning or smiling. Made of botulinum toxin type A, Botox is injected under the skin to paralyze muscles temporarily and keep them from contracting to form the wrinkle in the skin. The most common areas treated include frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet and lip lines. Treatment takes only a few minutes, and full results appear in a few days. As the results are temporary, you will have to return every four months or so to maintain or prolong results.

Fillers

While Botox works on dynamic wrinkles, dermal fillers work magic on static wrinkles. Static wrinkles are wrinkles that are always present and form due to aging and exacerbated by genetics, environment and lifestyle factors. Dermal fillers such as Bolotero, Juvederm and Voluma are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance in the body that binds with water molecules to fill wrinkles and softens deep folds. Dermal fillers can be used all over the face and in conjunction with Botox to maximize your youthful appearance and cosmetic goals. Results are immediate. Depending on the type of filler used and area addressed, results are immediate and last for several months to more than a year.

Cosmetic injectables can be used separately or to complement other non-surgical and surgical procedures to give you the youthful appearance you desire. If you’re interested in a consultation to discuss the best treatments to tackle your concerns, call our office today at (908) 879-2222.

Which breast implant option is best for me?

Even though breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, the decision go undergo surgery is a highly personal one. There are many decisions to make, including the size, shape and type of implant used. Read on to learn more about the differences in implant types.

Saline implants

Saline breast implants consist of a silicone outer shell filled with sterile salt water. These implants offer a lot of flexibility as they aren’t filled until they are inserted into the breast implant pocket. The surgeon has the flexibility with size, and they require smaller incisions than silicone implants. FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 18 or older, saline implants provide a uniform shape and feel. If they leak, the implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. You will know when a saline implant has ruptured.

Silicone implants

The most popular implant option, silicone gel implants are filled with silicone gel. FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 22 or older, these are popular because the gel feels more like natural breast tissue. If the implant ruptures, however, the gel may stay in the shell or escape into the breast implant pocket. Since it won’t collapse, you will need to see Dr. Weinstein regularly to make sure the implants have remained intact. An ultrasound or MRI may be used to assess the condition of the implants.

Gummy bear implants

As the name implies, gummy bear implants are “no-drip” implants that maintain their shape even if the shell of the implant has ruptured. The silicone gel inside a gummy bear implant is thicker than traditional silicone gel implants, providing a firmer implant. Gummy bear implants are tapered at the top and have more projection at the bottom. These implants require a slightly longer incision in the skin for placement.

Breast augmentation can be a life-changing surgery and give you the larger, firmer breasts you desire. To learn more, call our office today at (908) 879-2222 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

Do I need a breast augmentation or lift?

There are many reasons why women may be unhappy with their breasts, which is why breast enhancement surgery is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure. Pregnancy, weight loss, aging, hormones and development can affect the size and shape of the breasts. During your consultation with Dr. Weinstein, you will discuss your options for breast enhancement, which include breast augmentation, breast lift or both. Read on to learn more about the differences between the two surgical procedures.

Breast augmentation

More than 300,000 people in the United States undergo breast augmentation each year. This popular surgery addresses the size and shape of the breasts. There are a variety of reasons why women want to have this surgery done. Women who have experienced pregnancy or weight fluctuations may notice loss volume. Some women have abnormally small or underdeveloped breasts, while others have elongated breasts or breasts that are different sizes. Some women seek this surgery after having previous breast surgery.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Weinstein will go over the different surgical techniques best suited for you based on your breast anatomy and concerns. This includes the placement of the incision and implant type, size and shape. While saline implants are an option, most patients opt for silicone implants as the silicone gel feels most like natural breast tissue. The newest option is gummy bear implants, which are silicone gel implants with higher viscosity.

Breast lift

While breast augmentation addresses the size and shape of the breasts, a breast lift will reshape and raise sagging breasts. Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift consists of removing excess skin and tightening breast tissue to create a more youthful contour. Often, women choose to have a breast lift with breast augmentation to increase the breasts’ size and firmness and correct any imbalance in shape.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Weinstein will discuss the various incision patterns and techniques and make recommendations for you based on your age, skin elasticity, size and shape of your breasts and whether implants will be involved.

If you’re interested in changing the size and shape of your breasts or reshape and raise sagging breasts, call our office today at (908) 879-2222 to schedule a breast enhancement consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

Eyelid surgery explained

If your eyes are making you look more tired and older than you actually are, then you may have considered your options for rejuvenation, including eyelid surgery. How do you know if you’re a candidate? Read on to learn all about eyelid surgery and why it’s such a popular procedure.

Candidates for surgery

The best candidates for surgery are physically healthy, are in a good frame of mind and have realistic expectations. Many people over the age of 35 could benefit from eyelid surgery.

Why get surgery?

The eyes are the first place on your face to show signs of aging. The eyelids can age faster over time due to sun exposure and environmental factors. The muscles weaken, the eyelid skin stretches, and fat accumulates around the eyes.

Eyelid surgery is also called blepharoplasty and eye lift. During this surgery, Dr. Weinstein removes excess skin, fat or muscle from the areas around the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both. The lower eyelid blepharoplasty reduces eye bags and smooths out the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty consists of removing fat deposits and excess skin from the upper eyelid. Many patients need both upper and lower eyelid surgeries to address their concerns.

Aesthetic and functional benefits

There are many benefits to eyelid surgery. Improving the appearance of the eyes through eyelid surgery can make your overall appearance look more youthful and radiant, improving confidence. Often, eyelid surgery involves removing excess skin from the upper eyelid that droops over the eyes, improving vision.

Incisions are nearly invisible

The beauty of eyelid surgery is that incisions are small and remaining scars can be easily hidden within the natural creases of the eye and eyelid. This is one reason why eyelid surgery is so popular. During upper eyelid surgery, small incisions are made in the natural crease of the eyelids. For lower eyelid surgery, incisions are made below the lashes in the lower lid. Once Dr. Weinstein is done, he closes the incisions with very fine sutures.

Eyelid surgery helps you look more alert and youthful, and results will last for several years. To see if you are a candidate for surgery, call our office today at (908) 879-2222 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

4 reasons why you should consider a tummy tuck

Even with the best diet and exercise program, that extra pooch and stretched skin in the tummy area won’t go away. Now is the time to consider tummy tuck surgery, which creates a smoother, firmer abdominal profile by removing excess fat and skin and repositioning stretched and separated muscles in the abdominal wall. Here are four reasons why you should consider a tummy tuck.

You are done with childbearing. Often, pregnancy can wreak havoc on a woman’s body, and the stretched skin in the abdominal area doesn’t bounce back as you would’ve hoped. If you’re planning future pregnancies, you will want to hold off on a tummy tuck because it could negate your surgical results.

You have lost weight. For men and women alike who have lost a significant amount of weight, removing the excess skin has both aesthetic and functional appeal, as they want to show off their new contours and get rid of skin that’s getting in their way.

A tummy tuck can be done simultaneously with other procedures. Often a tummy tuck is accompanied by liposuction to get rid of excess fat in the abdominal area. A tummy tuck is also an integral part of what’s called a “Mommy Makeover,” and combined with a breast augmentation with or without a breast lift, and liposuction. This all-encompassing surgery is an increasingly popular choice among women who want one recovery period instead of separate ones spread out over several months or years.

You’ll see immediate results. After surgery, you will notice initial results that improve even more as swelling subsides. After several months, you’ll see full results once the swelling has ended.

A tummy tuck can provide long-lasting results if you continue to follow a healthy lifestyle after surgery. To learn more about a tummy tuck and to see if you’re a candidate, call our office today at (908) 879-2222 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weinstein.

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