What Does a MOXI Laser Treatment Do?

Key Takeaways: 

  1. MOXI Laser is a non-ablative laser treatment suitable for all skin tones, providing tonal and textural improvements with minimal pain and recovery time. 
  2. Preparations for MOXI Laser include scheduling a consultation, eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, increasing physical activity, and wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen post-treatment. 
  3. At Politis Plastic Surgery, Dr. Effie Politis offers safe, effective MOXI Laser treatments with natural-looking results.

Are you looking for a safe, efficient way to blast away unpleasant wrinkles, dark spots, freckles, or fine lines from your face? Would you like to restore a brighter, rejuvenated, youthful-looking skin complexion? Or do you have a darker skin tone and want a quick, painless alternative to peels or bleaching creams? If so, the MOXI Laser is a worthy option for you.

What is a MOXI Laser?

 MOXI Laser is a non-ablative laser treatment that delivers fractionated laser energy to the skin. Upon contact with the skin, the laser energy creates micro-coagulation zones on the top layer of the skin. Through the micro-injuries, the pigmented areas are pulled out and the skin’s natural repair process sets in to produce a smoother, rejuvenated appearance. The laser energy goes beyond the skin surface through thousands of tiny, deep channels, stimulating collagen production while speeding up cell turnover. In turn, the pigmented cells are damaged, removed, and replaced with new ones, resulting in tonal and textural improvements.

MOXI is an entry-level laser treatment characterized by low-intensity, short-lived application of laser energy. Due to the less intense laser energy used, it is great for all skin tones, including those with tones as dark as a 4, 5, or 6 on the Fitzpatrick scale. It also requires a significantly shorter time to heal when compared to ablative laser.

What are the benefits of a MOXI Laser treatment?

  1. It produces a brighter, smoother, more rejuvenated skin appearance.
  2. It is suitable for all skin types—not causing scarring and pigmentation on those with deeper skin tones.
  3. It does not require much preparation—hence ideal for even those with a busy lifestyle.
  4. It is fairly painless from start to finish.
  5. It is a safer, more effective alternative to peels and bleaching creams for those with deeper skin pigmentation.
  6. It is effective for lightening melasma—a skin darkening condition that often occurs due to hormone changes, such as pregnancy.
  7. It is a quick-recovery procedure that is gentle enough to allow resumption of daily routine soon after treatment.

What does it feel like to get a MOXI Laser treatment? 

MOXI Laser is a quick, easy, and almost painless treatment. Before the laser is applied, your plastic surgeon administers a numbing cream. The cream sets in for 30 minutes and helps to reduce pain during application of laser. With the skin now numb, laser energy is applied to targeted areas using a handheld laser machine. The laser is first passed to areas with the most pigment, such as the cheeks, before less pigmented areas are treated. The intensity of the laser energy used depends on your skin tone, pain tolerance, and concerns. The whole treatment takes 1-2 hours and usually involves applying a cool cloth on the treated areas of the skin in between the laser passes to lower the skin temperature. The skin will be a little warm and sensitive by the end of treatment, but it will not be excessively red.

How do you prepare for a MOXI Laser treatment? 

MOXI Laser treatment requires no major preparations. And it is a simple procedure with minimal physical demands. However, before the procedure, you need to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to assess whether the treatment would help you achieve your cosmetic goals. You should also eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking, increase your physical activity, and drink plenty of water. Plus, you need to prepare in terms of bearing the cost—a MOXI laser treatment may cost $625 per session. And while you’ll see positive results after one session, your plastic surgeon may recommend up to 3 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart for best results, especially if you have extreme pigmentation. On the day of the treatment, make sure to show up with a makeup-free face.

How is the post-treatment recovery for MOXI Laser? 

With MOXI laser, you go home immediately after treatment. But the delicate skin must be protected soon after treatment. So right away, make sure to wear a physical sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and to use an SPF of 30 and above. Your skin will feel a little rough and sore the first 48 hours after MOXI laser application. Scabs may also form within the first 3 days, though they will fall off the skin by day 5. To protect the treated area, avoid harsh ingredients like sulfates and acids. Instead, apply repairing serums with growth factors. Serum application will help heal the wounds and repair the skin faster. You can follow the serum with a gentle moisturizer to soothe the skin. But always make sure to wear SPF 30 and above in the morning, and to reapply it throughout the day. By day 6, you can start incorporating gentle retinol and acids back into your skin care routine. It will take 4-6 weeks to see the full results of the laser treatment—that is how long it takes for skin cell turnover.

Sparkly, revitalized skin with MOXI laser

Are you new to lasers and want to begin with a mild treatment? Or would you like to brighten your face, lighten melasma, or boost your skin’s collagen levels? At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer MOXI Laser Treatment to help you achieve a smoother, rejuvenated skin within a month. We comfortably administer non-ablative laser energy to reduce pore size, correct initial signs of photo damage, and reduce pigmentation.

You can trust Dr. Effie Politis to deliver safe, effective MOXI Laser treatment. She is exceptionally competent, professional, candid, and friendly. And you’ll love her expert eye and the natural-looking results she’ll deliver.

For more information on MOXI Laser and other surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments, visit the site “Politis Plastic Surgery.”

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What is Forever Young BBL?

Key Takeaways: 

  1. Forever Young BBL is a non-surgical, laser therapy that can be used to address signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, and pigmentation issues like age spots and melasma. 
  2. The laser energy penetrates deep into the skin, stimulating the body to naturally regenerate healthy, new skin. 
  3. It is a fast, easy, and natural treatment with no needles or knives that delivers immediate and long-lasting results, with no downtime required.”

As your skin changes with age, it becomes thinner, loses fat, and becomes dry, rough, and itchy. It also loses elastin and collagen, becomes slack, and hangs loosely. Plus, it becomes more fragile, easily bruised, and prone to skin lesions, age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Are you struggling with signs of aging skin and would like to restore a clearer, smoother skin complexion in a natural, non-surgical way?

If so, then Forever Young BBL is a perfect option for you.

What is Forever Young BBL?

It is an innovative, non-surgical rejuvenation procedure that uses the Sciton Joule BroadBand Light (BBL) System to deliver laser therapy. The laser energy penetrates deep into the skin surface, where it changes the expression of genes linked to aging and stimulates the body to naturally regenerate healthy, new skin.

Forever Young BroadBand Light (BBL) has the double benefit of stimulating the skin’s ability to reverse existing damage and to prevent occurrence of new damage. The procedure can be used to revive skin of the face, chest, neck, arms, back of the hands, and other parts of the body. It addresses some of the most common patient skin concerns, such as sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines.

How does Forever Young BBL work?

Forever Young BroadBand Light (BBL) produces and directs mild light energy to the upper layers of the skin. The laser energy is absorbed by skin cells, which are in turn stimulated to produce new collagen and elastin fibers.

With more collagen and elastin being produced, the natural beauty of the skin is restored, making the skin appear naturally toned, even, and smooth, glowing, and rejuvenated.

Also, the photo-thermal energy eliminates fine blood vessels responsible for redness, and reduces excess melanin that causes pigmentation changes and discoloration.

During the procedure, your eyes are protected with special glasses or shields. Then, laser energy from the machine is directed to the treated areas of the face. You’ll feel some warmth or a slight burning sensation as the light is absorbed by the skin. The procedure takes 30-45 minutes, depending on the treatment area. Local anesthesia is not necessary, but anesthetic cream may need to be applied on the more sensitive areas.

What are the benefits of Forever Young BBL?

  1. It is a fast, easy, non-invasive procedure that uses the power of light to penetrate layers of the skin and destroy damaged or unwanted cells—no needles or knives.
  2. It gives immediate and dramatic results that last 10 years or longer.
  3. It is a natural, chemical-free treatment that stimulates the skin to protect and heal itself without drugs and chemicals.
  4. It triggers production of elastin and collagen, which restore skin structure, strength, and resilience, and brings back natural plumpness and tightness.
  5. It stimulates skin cell renewal, which in turn rejuvenates the skin, brightens tone, shrinks pores, and smoothes out wrinkles.
  6. It eradicates pigmentation problems by targeting and heating the source to the point of destruction, removing age spots, dark patches, rosy cheeks, freckles, redness, broken blood vessels, and melasma.
  7. It rids the skin of acne by neutralizing bacteria, clearing out pores, and controlling oil production.
  8. It permanently eliminates unwanted hair by destroying the follicles under the skin.
  9. It requires no anesthesia and has no downtime—only mild redness and dark spots may occur, which clear within a couple of days.
  10. It is an excellent preventive therapy that delays the signs of aging.

What can you expect after your Forever Young BBL treatment?

After treatment, you leave your doctor’s office with a mild red, flushed appearance, which goes away within a few hours. In the case of a highly pigmented skin, the treated pigmented areas may appear darker, but will brighten, fade, and flake off within 1-2 weeks.

You should be able to return to work, apply makeup, and resume your routine immediately after the procedure. Also, because your skin will be more sensitive to ultraviolet light, avoid direct exposure to the sun until the skin heals. Use sunscreen whenever you are outdoors.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we have a full line of treatments to help you achieve a more youthful appearance. We offer the Forever Young BroadBand Laser (BBL) treatment to address several facial concerns at once and deliver significant age-defying results and a clearer, more even complexion.

Working At Politis Plastic Surgery: Jaime Hill, RN

Jaime Hill works at Politis Plastic Surgery, she has always had an interest in healthcare and went to a medical High School, she got her CNA at 16 then went on to study nursing in college. She worked in labor and delivery for 17 years before deciding to change to a less stressful environment and found her way to plastic surgery. Coincidentally, her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer during this time, she was able to use her knowledge and skills to guide her sister through the process of dealing with breast cancer and breast reconstruction at Politis Plastic Surgery.

Video Transcription:

My name is Jaime Hill and I am with Politis Plastic Surgery. I have always been interested in healthcare, and I attended a medical high school. I became a CNA at 16 and then went on to study nursing in college, earning my bachelor’s degree. My first son was born in a traumatic birth experience, which led me to focus on labor and delivery for 17 years. During that time, I also earned my master’s degree in nursing. However, I decided I needed a change and a less stressful environment. I found my way to plastic surgery and it coincided with my sister’s diagnosis of breast cancer. I was able to use my knowledge and skills to guide her through the process of dealing with breast cancer and breast reconstruction, which is something we do at Politis Plastic Surgery.

Introducing Dermapose

Micro fat transfer is a skin rejuvenation procedure that involves harvesting fat from elsewhere in the body and injecting it into the face to plump out lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. It uses a micro-injection technique to obtain and inject tiny droplets of fat with the utmost precision to restore volume in areas where it has been lost. The process is focused on injecting both fat cells and regenerative cells to affected areas of the face, and it can be performed almost anywhere on the body to restore collagen production and volume.

The main advantages of micro fat transfer are that it produces remarkable results, eliminates fine lines and wrinkles, and creates a smoother face. It also gives permanent results that only diminish over many years with the natural aging process. However, it may have mild and temporary adverse effects, such as slight redness, tenderness, swelling, or tingling, and there is a risk of allergic reaction or immune rejection. 

Dermapose is a specific type of micro fat transfer procedure that uses a person’s own body fat to boost volume and appearance in areas with volume deficits, and it is effective for treating thinning lips, smoker’s lines around the lips, nasolabial folds, hollows under the eyes, and a lack of definition around the jawline. The treatment involves injecting fat into the desired areas of the face, and it takes about an hour to complete, with minimal downtime required afterwards. However, there may be mild swelling and bruising at the injection sites, and the results may take a few weeks to become fully visible.

On the day of treatment, your plastic surgeon will greet you, explain the process, and go over how the treatment will work. Then, you will be given local anesthesia to numb the areas where injections will be made, and you may also be given sedation to make the process as painless as possible. Using a syringe, your plastic surgeon will remove fat from a fat-rich area of your body, such as the tummy, love handles, or muffin tops. The extracted fat will be centrifuged and filtered to separate it from water and blood.

Then, the fat will be placed in multiple syringes and injected into the desired areas of the face for anti-aging benefits and a renewed appearance. As the fat is injected, drop by drop, the plastic surgeon will build it layer by layer to achieve a perfect plumpness. Dermapose treatment takes roughly one hour from start to finish, and you will be able to go home the same day. Apart from the small incision at the fat donor site, no other incisions are made.

There may be mild swelling and bruising at the injection sites, and the results may take a few weeks to become fully visible. However, these side effects should resolve within a few days. You should be able to resume your normal activities immediately after the procedure, although you may be advised to avoid strenuous activities for a few days.

Overall, micro fat transfer and Dermapose are effective and natural alternatives to plastic surgery for adding subtle volume and fullness to the soft tissues of the face. They offer a quick and minimally invasive treatment option for eliminating wrinkles and fine lines on the skin and producing a natural, long-lasting, youthful-looking appearance. If you are considering these treatments, it is important to speak with a qualified plastic surgeon to determine if they are right for you and to discuss any potential risks or side effects. Your surgeon will be able to assess your individual needs and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan to help you achieve your desired results.

Call us today to discuss Dermapose and other surgical and non-surgical treatments with Dr. Effie Politis. For more information on our plastic surgery treatments, visit the site “Politis Plastic Surgery.”

What is ERAS Protocol?

ERAS stands for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery.  

An ERAS protocol refers to a series of pathways designed to be followed to ensure improved patient experience before, during, and after surgery.  They are a bundle of evidence-based interventions that ensure more rapid surgical recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, greater patient satisfaction, and reduced cost of both open and minimally invasive surgeries.

In the last 10 years, ERAS has become increasingly popular in different surgical specialties as a means of ensuring faster recovery and reducing complication rates following surgical procedures.

The key elements of ERAS are patient education, patient optimization before admission, minimal fasting before anesthesia, multi-modal analgesia with the right use of opioids when indicated, return home soon after the procedure, and return to normal diet and activities usually the day after surgery.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we have made efforts to incorporate the tenets of ERAS in our reconstructive and aesthetic surgery operations during the last 5 years. And with  increased implementation, we have been able to achieve faster recoveries, minimized post-surgical pain, and a speedier return to day-to-day life.

How does the ERAS protocol work?

With the ERAS protocol, the medical team works together with you before surgery to learn about your medical history and pain tolerance. This enables the medical team to create a surgical care plan that includes strategies to minimize pain after surgery, speed up recovery, and reduce narcotic usage. 

By design, the ERAS interventions help to reduce negative experiences related to surgery. It includes a multi-modal approach to treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting and to pain management. 

For instance, as a patient, you may be given a scopolamine patch prior to surgery to prevent nausea and vomiting. Then once under anesthesia, you are given additional medications through IV for enhanced management of nausea, including steroids and anti-nausea medications.

Pain management is approached in a similar manner. For example, you may be started with Tylenol (an anti-inflammatory drug), together with a neuro-modulator, before the surgery. Then while already under anesthesia, a long-acting local anesthetic may be given to help numb the surgical area. 

And so, by beginning anti-nausea and vomiting medication before surgery, these negative reactions are prevented. 

Also, by administering pain medication before surgery, there is reduced body response to pain and less need for anesthesia and narcotics after surgery. 

Therefore, when used, ERAS almost always results in less post-operative pain, nausea, and vomiting.  

It results in faster recoveries, though recoveries still depend on the type of procedure a patient undergoes. 

How is the ERAS protocol applied before surgery?

As part of ERAS protocol prior to surgery, the surgeon works with an anesthesiologist to determine and set the expectation of pain. 

Since not all patients experience pain in the same manner, setting pain expectations through pre-operative assessment of the patient helps to tell how much pain the patient will experience and how to minimize it.

According to ERAS principles, the surgeon has to discuss with you how you generally tolerate pain, how you recovered from previous surgeries, and how you see yourself recovering from the impending operation.  This helps the team to set your pain expectations. Then, after setting your pain expectations, the medical team will provide you with a blend of non-opioid medications that target how your nerves function. 

A critical part of ERAS before surgery is educating you about what to expect and how to prepare. That’s because educating and preparing you for surgery reduces fear and apprehension. 

 It also helps to optimize your diet and exercise routine, to stop smoking for at least 1 month before surgery, reach a BMI of less than 30, and abstain from alcohol.All of these  are steps that reduce the risk of complications after surgery.

How is the ERAS protocol applied during and after surgery?

As part of ERAS protocols, you are provided with medications to reduce nausea and vomiting during surgery. 

A local anesthesia and a pain-relieving technique are applied to numb the area where the procedure is performed. The result is a blockage of nerves associated with the area from activating, which results in minimal discomfort during surgery.

After surgery, you will receive medications similar to the ones used before surgery to control pain. The drugs continue to keep the nerves associated with the surgical site from firing strongly. 

Nevertheless, since pain tolerance differs from one person to another, there will be a need for continuous communication between you and your plastic surgeon regarding the pain. 

Be sure to speak with your doctor when you have concerns and make sure to attend follow-up appointments.

ERAS protocols and the management of pain

One of the key pillars of ERAS is eliminating opioid medications in pain management—due to increased deaths caused by opioid overdosing. So plastic surgeons that follow the protocol avoid prescribing opioids to patients unless it is entirely necessary based on pre-operative assessment, pain expectation, and pain tolerance. Surgeons use alternatives to opioids, such as local anesthesia and non-narcotic medication. 

In case you decide that it is necessary to take opioid medication for pain tolerance after plastic surgery, your plastic surgeon will inform you of the possible side effects and the appropriate dosage you should take. It is advisable that you speak with your doctor about anything you are not sure regarding prescribed pain medications.

Safe, quick-recovery plastic surgery

While pain is part of any plastic surgery procedure, the ERAS protocol helps to significantly reduce the amount of pain experienced.  

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we follow the ERAS principles to develop effective pain management plans and minimize complications related to surgery. We have embedded the ERAS protocol as a standard model of care in our practice.  

We continuously refine our interventions and measure our outcomes to ensure we achieve the highest standards of care. We are proud that the protocol has helped us achieve more rapid surgical recovery, shorter hospital stays, enhanced patient satisfaction, and reduced costs of care. 

For more information on plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures, contact us.

Getting Pregnant After A Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure involving  the removal of excess fat and tissue from the abdominal area to produce a tighter, more toned stomach. It is a perfect procedure for restoring your body shape and contour. 

Generally, plastic surgeons recommend that women undergo tummy tuck after they are done with having children. In some cases, there may still be a desire to get pregnant after getting the procedure. For these women, there may be some apprehensions as to whether it  will be safe to do so. 

 Can you get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

Yes. A pregnancy after a tummy tuck is safe for both you and your unborn child.  The pregnancy will also not adversely affect the results achieved through the procedure.

A tummy tuck does not adversely affect your abdominal walls and can still stretch and widen seamlessly to accommodate a growing fetus.  If you don’t experience any complications after abdominoplasty, your fertility will not be affected and you’ll have no problems getting pregnant. 

How soon can you get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

Since tummy tuck is a major surgery, it is important to give your body enough time to heal and recover from the side effects of the procedure. a A pregnancy is quite demanding on the body, you will need to be fully recovered for it. 

In general, you need to wait for at least one year after abdominoplasty to consider  a pregnancy. This period will not just allow your body to heal and improve, but will also help you and your doctor to rule out potential complications from the surgery. Nevertheless, before you get pregnant, make sure you speak with both your plastic surgeon and gynecologist about it.

For some mothers, the belly may not stretch out enough after a tummy tuck and may not look the same as their previous pregnancies.  tThis is completely safe and harmless to the growing child. 

 As long as the abdominal wall is able to stretch enough for the baby, there is no need for revision surgery. A tummy tuck revision is only necessary if and when the skin and abdominal muscles stretches too much during pregnancy, especially in the case of a twin pregnancies. 

Will a pregnancy affect your tummy tuck results?

Provided you stay healthy, the results of the tummy tuck procedure will last long after the pregnancy. 

In some cases, a touch-up procedure might be required after a pregnancy. It is also important to keep in mind that the effects of pregnancy depend on the body type and the extent of muscle repair that occurs before and after the pregnancy. 

 A tummy tuck leaves a scar that is usually hidden below the lower abdomen But, during pregnancy, the skin on the belly can stretch and expose the scar, which one may find unsightly. 

 If you need a caesarian section (C-section), the incision will be made along the tummy tuck scar, making the scar even more visible. However, you should know that having a C-section after a tummy tuck is not much different from having it before the procedure. Usually, your gynecologist has to work with a scar from a previous procedure, whether from a prior C-section or from a tummy tuck. 

 The gynecologist will not have any issues working with the abdominoplasty scar.  The only minor problem is that the gynecologist may not close the new C-section with the skill of a plastic surgeon and that may affect the appearance of the scar.

Informed plastic surgery decision-making

Would you like to get pregnant after a tummy tuck?  If so, schedule your consultation with a plastic surgeon today to discuss your options.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we ensure that you consult with both an OB-GYN and a plastic surgeon so that you are better guided on how to plan for pregnancy after a tummy tuck. 

As a practice, we often offer abdominoplasty to women who are done having children. However, we still ensure that those who have undergone the procedure can have a safe, successful pregnancy. 

For more information on tummy tuck and other plastic surgery procedures, contact us today.

The Benefits of Combining Facial Rejuvenation Procedures

Facial cosmetic surgery: Benefits of having more than one procedure at the same time

Having more than one facial cosmetic surgery at the same time is not only convenient but for many increases overall satisfaction and improves results. 

Combining two or more procedures guarantees all the problematic issues are addressed simultaneously. There will be fewer issues left unresolved, which delivers a better outcome. 

 What are the benefits of combining facial rejuvenation procedures?

  1. Delivers more transformative results

Combining facial rejuvenation procedures addresses multiple areas of the face and neck produces more dramatic results. 

For example, when a facelift is blended with an eyelid or brow lift, the surgery can produce a more balanced and proportional face. In this combined procedure, the facelift treats the lower and middle regions of the neck and face, while the eyelid surgery or brow lift procedure rejuvenates the eyes. 

Another example is combining chin augmentation with rhinoplasty to balance the proportions of the chin and nose. Since the nose is usually a primary area of focus on the face, having it in proportion with the chin ensures a more attractive, aesthetically-pleasing face. 

In this combined procedure,  rhinoplasty is the more complex part.  It needs to be performed in a safe manner and  must also be done to address both its cosmetic and functional aspects.  When done by a doctor who has perfected the techniques and steps involved and by using general anesthesia, it delivers amazing results and comes with the shortest and most comfortable recovery process. 

With chin augmentation synthetic implant or dermal fillers are used. There are multiple shapes and sizes of chin implants, allowing plastic surgeons to match the augmented chin to the operated nose, delivering  more elegant results.

  1. Comprehensive anti-aging remedy

When struggling with aging, a blend of surgical procedures can help address both minor and advanced signs of aging, such as deep creases, jowl formation, and hollowing in the mid-face. Though a single procedure can be effective, combining procedures gives even better results. 

For instance, combining a facelift with facial fat grafting restores youthful volume in the mid-face and other key locations.  It also removes redundant skin to create a more vibrant, youthful-looking face. 

Combined with fat grafting, it can make the results of a facelift last longer while producing  firmer skin. 

Another combination is using laser technology alongside Botox to produce comprehensive anti-aging results in a single treatment session. 

A laser technology, such as CoolPeel or CO2 laser resurfacing, can be used to address fine lines, facial wrinkles, enlarged pores, irregular skin texture, brown spots, mild skin laxity, and other pigmentation irregularities.

Botox injected as a neuro-modulator can help  minimize dynamic wrinkles that usually appear around the eyes and on the forehead. By relaxing the facial muscles, Botox helps to smooth out wrinkles. 

The laser and Botox combination can be done without anesthesia or downtime and with results that are fully evident within about one week. Of course, the laser component of the treatment may require sessions spaced across 4 weeks apart to ensure the best possible results.

  1. Eliminates a wide range of irregularities at once

For patients who desire to accentuate a firmer facial appearance with full skin rejuvenation, a combination of procedures can help create  smooth, radiant skin.

 A combination of a facelift with a chemical peel can help eliminate facial irregularities and boost appearance. 

A chemical peel is a wonderful addition as it helps fully exfoliate the skin   for optimal rejuvenation. 

And because the patient is already asleep for the facelift, a deep chemical peel can be comfortably performed to eliminate lines and wrinkles, pigmentation irregularities, uneven skin texture, and tone. 

With a chemical peel, such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel, applied alongside a surgical facelift, the deep peel would help to remove the outer layers of the skin in order to reveal the smoother, softer skin beneath. 

About one week of flaking and peeling follows the treatment before a dramatic improvement of the overall skin is achieved. 

  1. A single recovery time and less downtime

With combined facial cosmetic surgery, only a block of time is needed for consultation and recovery instead of having to schedule multiple surgeries with different recovery periods. This allows a patient to undergo one surgery and recover from all the procedures simultaneously. 

Of course, the single recovery period may be a little longer than needed to recover from a single procedure, but ultimately the recovery period is much shorter than when you undergo each procedure and its recovery period separately.

  1. Saves money and reduces complications

When multiple cosmetic surgery procedures are combined there are reduced financial implications, including saving money on repeat consultation sessions, operating room costs, and expenses related to anesthesia. 

Combining the procedures means many fees are paid only once, saving money in the process.

, When implemented as a single surgery with a single round of anesthesia, there are reduced risks of infection and adverse reactions to anesthesia.

Safe, effective facial cosmetic surgery

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer a wide range of cosmetic enhancements to help you look your best at  every stage of your life. With our array of choices, including surgical, nonsurgical, and many aesthetic enhancements, and our ability to combine them efficiently and effectively, we are able to deliver natural, beautiful results for our patients. 

Schedule your consultation today to find out how we can tailor a safe and effective combined cosmetic surgery treatment plan for you.

Should I Remove or Replace Breast Implants?

As a woman, your breasts are an integral part of your overall appearance. And whether they are small or large, perky or not, their appearance can cause a feeling that impacts all areas of your life. 

Plus, the psychological fallout that follows when you’re dissatisfied with the way your breasts look can be devastating for some women, including a nose dive in confidence, loss of self-esteem and feeling unattractive.

Fortunately, through breast augmentation using breast implants you can:

  1. Make your breasts larger, fuller, perkier, and higher on your chest, achieving an enhanced, more youthful appearance.
  2. Correct asymmetry and eliminate embarrassing difference in size between your breasts.
  3. Enjoy psychological and lifestyle benefits, including a renewed freedom in shopping for clothes, enhanced capacity to embrace new opportunities and engage in relationships, and an overall feeling of being more attractive, more confident, sexier and happier overall.

How long do breast implants last?

While breast implants can help restore feminine curves and boost self-image, they don’t last a lifetime. 

Generally, the lifespan of breast implants—whether saline or silicone—is 10-20 years after initial augmentation surgery.  But since every patient heals and responds differently to surgery, the actual life of your implants would depend on your body and how well you take care of them.

Before surgery, your plastic surgeon will explain to you how to care for the implants and the necessary check ups you should undergo to ensure they last longer. Nonetheless, no matter how well you care for them, you should still understand that the implants will need to be removed or replaced at some point.

What are the common reasons for implant removal or replacement?

  1. Capsular contracture

Sometimes, no matter how skilled and experienced your plastic surgeon is, complications still arise after surgery due to the unique healing process that every patient undergoes. Capsular contracture—the development of a thick and hard scar tissue around one or both implants—is one such potential complication.

When you have unusually hard capsules of scar tissue around the implants after surgery, you will have aesthetic problems and, in extreme cases, pain in the breasts. So in rare instances you may need to undergo revision surgery to remove or replace the implants, particularly if the scar tissue causes tightness, pain, tenderness and changes in breast size and shape.

  1. Implant rippling

Breast implant rippling refers to formation of wrinkles and folds around an implant. When the folds and wrinkles are extreme, they become noticeable on the skin and may require revision surgery to correct. Causes of rippling include poor tissue coverage of the implants, scar capsules that are too loose, under-filled or overfilled saline implants, or round-shaped implants.

Rippling may arise after breast reconstruction with saline or silicone implants and tends to develop on the outer perimeter (side, bottom, near cleavage) of the reconstructed breasts. It is also associated more with saline-filled implants than with silicone implants.

When the rippling is visible on the skin, your surgeon may recommend revision surgery. The revision options your surgeon may consider include an operation to replace an undersized implant, tighten the scar capsule, replace saline implant with silicone implant, reposition the implant, change shape of the implant, or remove under-filled or over-filled implants.

  1. Saline or silicone implant rupture

New saline and silicone implants rarely rupture. 

But in older models it can sometimes happen so in those instances saline implants may deflate quickly like balloons. The saline solution then leaks out through the tear and is absorbed harmlessly into the body. In turn, breasts lose size and shape, and look different. Though the risk of saline rapture is rare, it increases by 1-percent every year after the surgery.

Silicone gel-filled implants have a thick silicone gel inside that stays either inside the implant or surrounding tissue even after implant rupture. So it is difficult to notice when a silicone implant ruptures; except that the breasts show uneven appearance and have changes in breast sensation, such as swelling, tingling, numbness, or burning.

When a saline or silicone gel-filled implant has ruptured, your plastic surgeon may recommend surgical removal or replacement. In some cases, your surgeon will also remove the capsule of scar tissue surrounding the implant or just remove the capsule by making small incisions. Typically, implants in both breasts are removed even if only one has ruptured, then replaced during the same surgery.

  1. Positional change

Implant malposition is one of the common reasons for revisionary breast surgery. Generally, breast implant malposition is caused by the implant pocket being too large for a given implant, resulting in the implant not being centered inside the breast. 

To correct implant malposition, your surgeon can opt to perform revision surgery to replace the implant, and then follow that with a precise suturing of the pockets from the inside of the breasts to have the implants properly fitted. Plus, the doctor may switch the implant pocket location or add a lifting procedure to create the desired breast appearance.

  1. Personal desire to change breast appearance

Tastes and preferences are never constant and tend to change with time. So some years after your breast augmentation, you may feel that you need to change the appearance of your breasts or to remove them entirely.

Your plastic surgeon will listen to you, carefully assess your goals and expectations, and guide you on making an informed decision. Then, the surgeon may recommend that you undergo revision surgery to replace the implants with larger or smaller implants, or to remove them entirely based on your lifestyle and aesthetic priorities.

What should you expect during breast implant removal?

Since your implant can be removed or replaced by any qualified plastic surgeon, you won’t necessarily have to go to the surgeon who did the first surgery.  During your consultation session with the surgeon, the implant will be evaluated and your surgical options explored. 

Depending on the problem with the implant and on your preferences, the surgeon will:

  1. Do implant removal alone.
  2. Remove the implant and perform a breast lift.
  3. Remove lumpy or hardened tissue

Since implant removal can lead to cosmetic abnormalities, such as sagging, dimpling, deflation, or asymmetry, your surgeon may recommend replacing the removed implants with those of a different shape or size.

What should you expect from breast implant replacement?

Implant replacement is the procedure in which your doctor replaces your problematic implants for newer implants. You may stick to the same type, size, and shape or go with different implants altogether.  

The replacement can be combined with a breast lift or with scar tissue removal. But usually, the cost of implant replacement is higher than that of implant removal as you will need to pay for the initial removal, replacement implants, and any other related procedures.

How do you care for your implants to make them last longer?

One of the best steps to take to ensure your implants last longer is to consider carefully and choose the right size and shape the first time. That’s because most cases of implant removal or replacement arise from unhappiness with implant size and shape.  

So pick breast implants of the size and shape you feel you can live with for 10-20 years—remember your tastes will change over the course of your lifetime. 

Speak with your plastic surgeon about your cosmetic goals and implant preferences, and request broad advice and recommendations. By being open with your plastic surgeon and following recommendations, you will make a better choice. 

Because implant removal or replacement may be necessary due to local complications, such as ruptures, deflations, wear and tear, or surgical error, you need to choose a skilled, experienced surgeon who performs the procedures regularly. A surgeon with experience in the removal or replacement is ideal.  

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we make sure that you are aware of the lifespan of implants and that they aren’t guaranteed to last a lifetime. In fact, during your consultation, our board-certified surgeon will explain to you what to expect from different types of implants and help you to choose the right implant. 

For more information on breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, and other plastic surgery procedures, visit the site “Politis Plastic Surgery.”

What is circumferential body contouring?

Circumferential body contouring is a surgical procedure to remove excess loose skin, tissue, and subcutaneous fat in the abdomen, waist, and buttock area. During the procedure, a circumferential incision is made around the abdomen, extended to the sides, then into the lower back.


Through the incision, the surgeon removes excess skin and fat and repositions and tightens tissues. The result is a smoother, more youthful body contour, enhanced body shape and image, and a renewed sense of self-confidence.

Who is a candidate for the procedure?

Circumferential body contouring helps in reshaping a specific area of the body. It is often recommended after massive weight loss surgery, diet, or exercise to correct areas of loose skin on the arms, belly, flanks, neck, chin, thighs, or buttocks.

You are an ideal candidate for the procedure if

1. You have undergone bariatric surgery and have excess, loose skin.
2. You want to improve loose, saggy, or wrinkled skin due to natural aging.
3. You have experienced massive weight loss due to diet or exercise and want to remove surplus loose skin, fat, and tissues.
4. You have failed to reshape your body via diet and exercise.
5. You want to look and feel leaner or attain a certain body shape.
6. You want to achieve a smoother, younger skin appearance.

What happens before circumferential body contouring?

Before the procedure, your plastic surgeon will schedule a consultation session to listen to your specific concerns, your desired goals, and expectations. The doctor will also use the session to note your medical history, do a physical exam, run specific tests, answer your questions, and ascertain whether the procedure is right for you. Your surgeon will equally confirm that you are a healthy non-smoker with a stable weight, positive outlook, and realistic expectations.

More specifically, the plastic surgeon will:

1. Examine and measure the areas to be treated or reshaped.
2. Use a marker or pen to mark out the areas
3. Take pictures
4. Discuss with you options and recommendations
5. Develop a tailored surgery plan
6. Review surgical risks, discuss anesthesia, and explain post-operative pain control
7. Have you sign a consent form giving permission for the procedure, including consent for risks involved.
8. Explain post-operative instructions, the routine healing process, and follow-up care.

What happens during the procedure?

Circumferential body contouring is usually done inpatient, with the patient admitted for at least one night in the hospital. Only very minor contouring may be done on an outpatient basis but with a nurse going home with you to assist with post-operative care.

Typically, the surgery takes 4-6 hours to perform and goes on under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make a circumferential incision around your abdomen, stretch it around the sides, and then into your lower back. Through the incision, the surgeon repositions and tightens tissues, and removes excess skin and fat.
Sometimes, there is a need for extensive incisions and to combine the procedure with liposuction, particularly if you have so much excess fat. Your surgeon will explain this to you before the procedure.
To complete the procedure, your surgeon will use deep sutures within the underlying tissue to help create the newly shaped contours. After that, the doctor places multiple drains to remove any small amounts of fluid that may build in the treated area. The drains are then left in place for 7-10 days after surgery.

What happens after circumferential body contouring?

After the surgery, you’ll have to wear an abdominal binder for 12 hours a day to reduce swelling and support the new contours. You should avoid standing fully or upright so that internal sutures do not bend and stress as they heal—sleeping on pillows to elevate your knees is advisable during the first few days after the procedure.

Returning to light walking as soon as possible is recommended as a way to minimize potential blood clots and other complications. Numbness and a feeling of firmness over the skin surface will resolve over time, but you’ll have to wait for 2 weeks before returning to work and 6-8 weeks to resume vigorous exercise.
Follow your surgeon’s instructions on caring for the treated area. If you experience any pain or swelling, contact your doctor immediately for help. It will take up to a year for incision lines to refine and fade, but they will not be a problem as they’ll be hidden by your clothing and swimsuit.

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer circumferential body contouring procedure that produces results that are visible almost immediately. However, we encourage patience as it may take several months for the final results to fully develop. These results are long-lasting, provided a stable weight and general fitness is maintained.

For more information on circumferential body contouring and other plastic surgery procedures, book for a consultation with us today.

Improving Your Skin Health by Going on a Skin Care Diet

No matter your skin type—dry, oily or sensitive—a daily skin care routine can help you maintain overall skin health and improve specific concerns like scarring, acne, and dark spots.

A typical skin care routine includes cleansing, using serum, moisturizing, and applying a sunscreen.

While a skin care routine can produce a clear and healthy skin, it can also result in an overload of ingredients. Unfortunately, when there is excess application of ingredients, your skin’s protective barrier can break down and you may experience extreme inflammation, redness, rashes, sensitivities, and breakouts.

What is a skin care diet?

A skin diet is a tailored application of skin care products to rebuild and regenerate the skin. A carefully customized skin diet recreates stratum corneum layer of your skin, minimizes irritation and inflammation, and produces a clearer, healthier, glowing skin.
You may not need a skin diet if your skin is already clear and healthy. But when you’re experiencing problems or are not responding to various products you’re using, then you need to consider a skin care diet.

A skin diet is made of four basic products—a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. However, as with choosing the ingredients for any menu, you’ll need to be careful and deliberate as you pick all the products to include in your skin diet. For instance, you’ll need to avoid harsh actives, fillers, synthetics, and artificial fragrances.

1. Cleanser

A good cleanser is the cornerstone of a great skin diet. Ideally, you should go for a gentle cleanser that is known to work well for all skin types. Avoid cleansers with free alpha or beta-hydroxy acids and other exfoliating agents. Also, avoid a cleanser that will leave your skin tight after washing.

2. Serum

A serum with vitamin C or growth factors or peptides is great in the morning, under sunscreen. Then at night, retinol or prescription retinoids tend to work best.

3. Moisturizer

A moisturizer pairs well with a cleanser to ensure your skin has enough moisture to perform cellular functions. In fact, even an oily skin needs a moisturizer, though you’ll need one that is lightweight, gel-based, and non-comedogenic (doesn’t block your pores).

Additionally, an ideal moisturizer is one that contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, but you should avoid a super-thick cream. A dry skin may benefit a lot from a cream-based moisturizer—most brands label their products as gel or cream on their packaging.

4. Sunscreen

You need to apply sunscreen on a daily basis to protect your skin from the sun. Most preferably, you should go for a mineral-based sunscreen with at least 30 SPF 15 minutes before you head outdoors—sunscreen takes time to activate.

Even with a darker skin, you still need sunscreen. That’s because hyper-pigmentation is harder to correct. Try a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB product, making sure to avoid anything that may irritate sensitive, acne-prone skin.

Why should you go on a skin care diet

1. A skin care diet goes back to the basics, enabling you to use only products that are beneficial to your skin. A tailored diet rebuilds the protective skin barrier and boosts skin balance and pH levels, preventing redness, rashes, blemishes, and sensitivities.

2. A skin diet gets rid of the many unnecessary ingredients that when used for too long can cause skin sensitivity and damage the skin. In a carefully planned and tested skin diet, the regimen includes a few effective products.

3. A skin diet enables you to eliminate harsh products from your skin care routine. Remember, harsh products can remove natural oils from your skin, damage the skin barrier, and make your skin more susceptible to harmful aggressors, pollutants, and premature aging.

4. A skin diet prevents adverse product interactions by allowing you to gradually and carefully combine various products and achieve synergy—enabling you to get better results from less.

5. A skin diet prevents aggressive skin exfoliation that may cause red, irritated skin and increase the risk of wrinkles and fine lines. While physical and chemical exfoliation is excellent in removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, over-exfoliation can trigger cosmetic problems.

How does skin care diet work?

Basically, you opt for a skin diet when you have a skin-related problem. But the dieting process depends on the principle that it takes time to identify products that are best for the skin.

To start off, you give your skin a break from all the products you have been using to allow the skin to rebuild and revitalize. So you stop using everything, including cleansers, moisturizers, serum, sunscreen, acids, sulfates, fragrances, and exfoliating agents.


Next, you note down everything you’ve been using. A list of what you’ve eliminated will help you identify the ingredient that is behind your skin problem.

You’ll also need to clean your makeup brushes and consider every possible cause of skin irritation. Remember, a skin problem may be due to diet, age, genetics, or even menopause.

At the core of the skin diet is the minimalist approach. You begin with a basic and simple routine—cleanser, moisturizer, serum, and sunscreen—then observe how your skin reacts. Once you’re comfortable, you can add extra products, such as masks, exfoliating agents, and spot treatments to enhance your skin’s health.

Every time you add a new product, make sure to conduct a patch test, particularly if you suspect that you have sensitive skin. Patch testing will also help you identify potential allergic reactions.

To patch test a new product:
1. Apply a small amount of the product on your skin in a discreet area, such as on your inner arm or inside your wrist.
2. Allow 48 hours to see if your skin reacts to it.
3. Check the area at 96 hours of the application to see if you have a delayed reaction.

An allergic reaction may include itchiness, small bumps, irritation, or redness. If you notice any of these reactions, wash the area with water and a gentle cleanser. Then, you can return to the product and try another that better suits your skin type.

How do you care for your skin with a skin diet?

1. Choose products—cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and serum—that fit your skin type and sensitivity. Make sure to read the product labels. Some products, such as retinol or prescription retinoids, should only be applied at night.

2. Get your skin prepared through healthy dietary changes and increased water intake. Staying hydrated will help your skin absorb and use the ingredients you’re applying.

3. Use a cleanser, serum and moisturizer. Also, wear sunscreen every day and apply 15 minutes before going out. Of course, the products you use should have easy-to-pronounce ingredients and with no harsh actives, fillers, synthetics, or artificial fragrances.

4. Use a particular product for at least 2 weeks before you add something new. As you use a product, observe how your skin responds to it. If you notice irritation, eliminate the product from your skin diet.

5. It will take 4-8 weeks to achieve desired results. So be patient and stick to the minimalist, one-product-at-a-time approach.


Honest, trustworthy plastic surgeon

Are you struggling with a skin-related cosmetic issue? Or are you considering a plastic surgery procedure and would like to get sound advice before you take the step?

At Politis Plastic Surgery, we offer a wide-range of natural, medical, and surgical solutions to aesthetic problems. Our open, compassionate approach ensures that we listen to you, appreciate your goals and expectations, guide you through all the options, and help you make an informed choice.

You can rely on us to turnaround your appearance and help you gain and regain your self-esteem and confidence.

For more information on facial treatments, light-based therapies, and plastic surgery procedures, contact us today!