Skin Procedures-California, La Jolla, Plastic Surgeon, Dr. William S. Halsey - facial, cosmetic procedures, plastic & reconstructive surgery, facial surgery

Cosmetic facial surgery is designed mainly to enhance one’s appearance by camouflaging the signs of aging or by changing unsightly anatomy in order to bring harmony to all of the facial features. It is the contours of the skin of the face and eyes that convey expression and display a healthy, vibrant appearance.

Healing is an unpredictable process since there are many forces at work. After a scar has fully matured and is not changing in appearance any more (usually after one year) Dr. Halsey can often improve its appearance by special flap and suturing techniques. Some scars can inhibit normal functioning of the face and this can be improved as well.

Once your dermatologist or doctor detects a cancerous growth on your face it needs to be removed. Removal and follow-up care is only part of the treatment. Your face must be restored to its original beauty and function and often the special flaps and techniques that Dr. Monasebian uses are needed to achieve this.

When we are young our skin is smooth and elastic with a healthy glow. As we age, our ability to maintain that smoothness and elasticity diminishes, resulting in skin that becomes drier, thinner and less able to replenish itself. Our body's natural collagen and hyaluronic acid levels decrease and our skin becomes looser. This leads to our skin wrinkling and appearing older than it should.

Approved by the FDA, Restylane is designed to match your skin, smoothing wrinkles, sculpting lips or shaping facial contours. With its unique ability to bind with water, Restylane is able to perform for many months in your skin. The most common areas for a Restylane treatment are the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows) and the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of your mouth). When used for lips or facial contouring, Restylane will add shape and volume to the area. Restylane is able to create volume under your wrinkles, which are then lifted up and smoothed out.

Since no pre-testing is required, a Restylane treatment can be performed almost immediately. It usually takes about 30 minutes depending on the type of correction you want. Most people find the injections relatively painless, but a topical anesthetic can be applied to the area prior to your treatment. You will be able to see the results as soon as your treatment is completed.

Restylane, manufactured by using a unique method in Sweden, is a clear transparent gel composed of

hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found throughout your body. Hyaluronic acid gives volume to your skin and has been used as a lubricant in arthritic joints. It has even been used during eye surgery to protect the retina. The hyaluronic acid found in Restylane is not of animal or human origin which means that there is no risk of disease transmittal or allergic reaction, which you might find in other cosmetic fillers. There is no need for skin tests and the risk of side effects is very low.

Collagen is a protein found in the second layer of skin known as the dermis (the first layer is called the epidermis). It is injected under the dermis layer to add fullness to areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks and forehead. A skin test is necessary 4 weeks prior to the injections.

Radiance is an injectable implant material that can fill the lines around the face and augment the lips. Unlike Collagen no allergy testing is required. The material can be placed without any skin testing. Best of all Radiance lasts years as opposed to months like Collagen. Although more costly than Collagen, in the long term less money is actually spent.

Other applications for Radiance include filling out depressions and scars on the face. The correction achieved is both predictable and long lasting.

Juvéderm is an injectable gel that gently reverses many signs of aging in the face, including fine lines and wrinkles, crow's feet, thinning lips and loosening skin. It can also "plump up" the lips, sculpt the cheeks, and restore a youthful oval shape to the face. It is made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works with collagen and elastin to give volume and support to the skin. Because it is non-animal-based and highly biocompatible, no pre-treatment testing is needed. Juvéderm comes in three formulas optimized for the depth of the area being treated. Results last about 6-9 months and can be made to last even longer with a simple follow-up treatment a few weeks after the initial injection.

Sculptra™ is a new injectable product used to counteract the loss of fat beneath the skin (a condition called lipoatrophy). Sculptra is injected into the deep dermis layer of the skin to improve the appearance of sunken cheeks, hollow eyes, indentations and wrinkles. Its main component is an alpha hyrdoxy acid that has been used for 20 years in surgical products such as dissolvable sutures. Results can last up to two years.

The M.D.A Microdermabrasion system works by pumping minute crystals through a glass hand-piece onto the skin's surface. The fine crystal mist gently refines the epidermal layer leaving the skin smooth and more youthful. Dermabrasion has been used in the medical industry for with great success. Micro-dermabrasion has been introduced to allow the beauty therapist to bridge the gap between beauty salon and the dermatologist clinic. In just one treatment the M.D.A. visibly refines and polishes the surface of the skin. And what's more, the technique stimulates the micro-circulation to promote a healthy new layer of skin.

Botox is a protein that weakens muscles that wrinkle the skin. It is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth to reduce "worry lines", "crow's feet" and "frown lines". The procedure is quick and usually done in an examination room.

TCA is a non-toxic chemical that has been used to perform skin peels for over 30 years. Unlike some other peels, TCA peels have the advantage of creating a fresh natural appearing complexion, while preserving the normal skin color. For this reason, they are often referred to as "freshening peels".