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March 6, 2010

Is it safe to do a home chemical peel?

Filed under: chemical peel, chemical peel alternatives, chemical peel doctors, chemical peel los angeles, home chemical peel, natural chemical peel — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 2:38 am

Trying to perform a chemical peel on yourself is a sure way to turn a very safe procedure into a disfiguring one.  Because chemical peels are safe and highly beneficial when performed by an experienced cosmetic surgeon, and because they are a nonsurgical treatment, many people wonder if they can give themselves a chemical peel at home to save some money.  The internet has made these chemicals available. When someone asks us for advice on how to give themselves a home chemical peel, our advice is always this: Don’t!

Yes, the facial chemical peel cost is higher if you have it done right by a doctor, but that’s before you consider the cost of damaging yourself. If you try to perform this procedure on yourself, you will likely permanently alter the coloration of your face by introducing irregularities, scars, and hypopigmentation.  Further, you will not know how to care for your skin after the initial treatment without a doctor’s guidance in monitoring your healing.  In the end, you will have to bear the emotional cost of your damaged appearance and the financial cost of finding the best doctor who can help you reverse some of the destruction you have caused.  You wouldn’t do brain or heart surgery on yourself, right?  How about facial surgery?  That really is what is involved in doing your own chemical peel.

What can a doctor do that I can’t?

A chemical peel may seem deceptively simpler than it is.  Those who are just learning about the procedure often mistake it is merely a matter of dipping the face in a beneficial substance and then washing it off.  In truth, correctly performing a facial chemical peel takes a cosmetic surgeon years to master through education and first-hand chemical peel experience.  A licensed and highly trained cosmetic surgeon can perform a chemical peel so well because he or she understands the following:

•    The indications for a chemical peel treatment
•    The different skintypes classified in the Fitzpatrick scale
•    How each skintype responds to chemical peels
•    What concentrations and combinations help each skintype
•    How to give you enough treatment to see results
•    How to not give you too much treatment, which will damage you
•    How each type of problem respond to different treatments
•    How to assess the condition of your skin
•    Factors like skin thickness, sensitivity, sun damage
•    How your medical history effects your current treatment needs
•    Who is a good candidate for a chemical peel
•    Who is not a good candidate for a chemical peel
•    What to do in the rare incidence in complications
•    Post chemical peel treatment and how to follow up with care for your skin during and after the healing process
•    How to apply the chemical peeling agents differently to each facial area depending on the needs of the skin in each area
•    The powers and limits of each type of chemical peel

This is not something that any instruction manual can give you.  This is not something you can learn without training in biology, anatomy, medicine, and chemistry and many years of clinical experience.  This is not something you can learn without being mentored over a year or more.  This is not something you can “pick up” this weekend with a kit you ordered on the internet.  Most importantly, chemical peels are not a do-it-yourself activity.

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatments like the chemical peel is the fact that there are those who think that because it is so safe in a doctor’s office, it is something they can do at home in the kitchen.  Individuals trying to save a few bucks by treating themselves may be surprised and upset to see their experiment go so horribly wrong, but these poor at-home results don’t surprise a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in chemical peels and understands their complexity.  It is true that chemical peels are very safe, but only when performed in a medical setting by a qualified, experienced cosmetic physician who specializes in chemical peels.

Think of it this way: If you broke your leg, would you try to make a cast for yourself at home?  Of course not!  Doctors treat broken bones in emergency rooms everyday and consider this a safe, important procedure, but you would never dream of doing this to yourself.  Similarly, there is a lot more to the art of a chemical peel than you may imagine.

Finding the Best, Safe Treatment

Dr. Steinsapir specializes in individualizing each chemical peel to a patient’s unique facial needs.  He will answer your questions and develop a safe, effective treatment plan based on your individual goals.  Call us today to find out how a chemical peel performed safely on an outpatient basis can help you.

January 27, 2010

Can I have cosmetic surgery under local anesthesia?

Filed under: Cosmetic Facial Fillers, Cosmetic Surgery, Liposuction Beverly Hills, safe cosmetic surgery — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:51 pm

You may be surprised to learn that many procedures like eyelid surgery, liposuction, facelifts, and others can be safely performed under local anesthesia with or without intravenous sedation.  Whenever possible, it’s usually best to choose local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia for several reasons:

1.    Local anesthesia is safer.
While cosmetic procedures today are overall considered extremely safe, it’s noteworthy to point out that in the rare cases of malpractice suits or death, most of these problems involve surgeries performed under general anesthesia.  For example, liposuction’s mortality rate when performed under general anesthesia is estimated to be between one in 40,000 cases to one in 5,000.  The actual figure is probably toward the lower end of that range, which means it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be so unlucky, especially if you choose an experienced and reputable surgeon.  Then, when we look at the mortality rate for liposuction performed under local anesthesia, we find a mortality rate of only one in 300,000 cases.  The lesson to be gleaned here is that while both methods are very safe, the increased dangers of general anesthesia make safe local anesthesia a better option, so why take a chance?

2.    Local anesthesia enables the doctor and patient to communicate and obtain better results.
When the doctor and patient can communicate during the procedure, there is much to be gained.  If you are having eyelid surgery, for example, your surgeon can have you open and close your eyes so he or she can see exactly how your body is responding to the surgery and you can obtain the most precise results possible.  In cases like liposuction, your doctor will ask you to alert him if you begin to feel any mild discomfort.  This ensures that nearby tissues are not traumatized during the procedure.  If they are, you will be okay, but your recovery time will be longer.  When you are conscious, you can listen to your doctor and tell him or her exactly how you feel, which means your results will be more individualized than they would be if you are “out” under general anesthesia.

3.    Local anesthesia allows for faster recovery.
Fewer drugs means that you are less hung-over after surgery, so you return to normal much faster.  Going back to our liposuction example, the compression garments worn for six weeks after general anesthesia are only needed for five to six days after local anesthesia liposuction.  Since you are able to provide feedback to your doctor during surgery, the liposuction is accomplished with much less trauma which means a much faster recovery.

For these reasons, Dr. Steinsapir performs cosmetic procedures under local anesthesia whenever possible.  Cosmetic surgeries under local anesthesia often cost more than they would under general anesthesia because your doctor needs to spend more time working gently and delicately to ensure your absolute comfort.  The increased doctor-patient time does cost money, but this is also the reason why you heal so quickly and receive detailed treatment, along with fewer complications and health risks.

Which procedures can I have under local anesthesia?

This depends on your unique, individual health status and a personal examination.  Usually, those in good health can safely and comfortably receive most of the treatments we provide under local anesthesia.  Nonsurgical treatments like BOTOX, fillers, the chemical peel, and fotofacial of course are routinely administered under local anesthesia.  Cosmetic surgeries like the endoscopic forehead lift, facelift, midface surgery, liposuction, and eyelid surgeries are best performed under local anesthesia or local with intravenous sedation.  It is especially important to receive eyelid surgery under local anesthesia so your doctor can instruct you to open and close your eyes so that he or she can monitor and adjust the effects of the surgery for optimal results.

When is it best to have surgery under general anesthesia?

Generally procedures that are likely to run more than an hour benefit from sedation.  Body wall surgery including tummy tucks and breast surgery should be performed under general anesthesia.  Procedures that are likely to take more that 4 hours are often best performed under general anesthesia but this is something that should be discussed with the individual surgeon.

How do I find a doctor who will treat me under local anesthesia?

As always, we encourage you to be direct with your doctor.  Simply ask your potential cosmetic surgeon if he or she prefers to work under general or local anesthesia, and what he or she thinks will be best for you.  If your doctor prefers general anesthesia for you, find out why.  Is it because of your unique health situation?  Local anesthesia should be the default answer with general anesthesia functioning as an exception.  Yes, this will require your doctor to spend more time treating you, but in the end you will have peace of mind knowing that you’ll receive the safest care, as well as experience the fastest recovery time and the best results.

Dr. Steinsapir specializes in performing procedures that improve the face and body contours under local anesthesia.  He believes the extra time this requires is well worth the safer, superior results and satisfied recipients.  Dr. Steinsapir emphasizes the importance of minimally-invasive, detail-oriented treatments on a comfortable outpatient basis, while maintaining the expertise and safe resources needed for general anesthesia and inpatient treatment for individuals with unique health needs.  If you have any apprehension about anesthesia, Dr. Steinsapir can answer your questions, offer advice, and create solutions during your individualized consultation.  Contact us today to see how we can help.

September 16, 2009

MicrodropletTM BOTOX® and Dysport®: A Revolution in Treatment

Filed under: Botox Los Angeles, Dr. Steinsapir, Under Eye Restylane — Tags: , , , — admin @ 6:44 pm

Let’s be honest, you’ve tried BOTOX® and perhaps the new Dysport® but the results are disappointing.  Even the models and actress with access with to best doctors have some strange results.  You know the bat face and the Vulcan forehead: strange foreheads that are frozen in time.  Perhaps you have decided to swear off treatment?  Well, Dr. Steinsapir, the premier cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills has announced his breakthrough method called the MicrodropletTM forehead lift.  This patent pending method revolutionizes what can be accomplished with BOTOX® and Dysport®.

Why Doctor Steinsapir’s MicrodropletTM forehead lift is different.

Ever wonder why doctors inject BOTOX® and Dysport where they do? Before Dr. Steinsapir, doctors never thought about how to control the spread of these agents.  Uncontrolled, these agents drift.  This means that using standard injections, there is no way to selectively treat the muscles that pull the eyebrows down and avoid treating the muscle that helps elevate the eyebrow.  Perhaps you have experienced these types of results yourself or have seen them in your favorite actresses: The forehead can’t move and the eyebrows drop like stones.  Think about it.  What looks good is a gently lifted eyebrow, no crows feet lines or brow pinch, and a forehead with reduced lines that is still able to move.  Imagine a BOTOX® treatment that allows you to have natural expressions! This is exactly what the MicrodropletTM forehead lift does.

MicrodropletTM means control.

Dr. Steinsapir has been treating with BOTOX® since 1988.  He has performed cosmetic BOTOX® treatments since 1992.  He developed the Microdroplet forehead lift by carefully listening to his patients.  The key break though came when he learn how to precisely target the muscles that pull the eyebrows down.  He accomplished this by using microliter injections of BOTOX® and Dysport® that are placed in such a way that the treatment can’t spread.  This means that the most important muscles that cause the unwanted pinching at the brow and crows feet, and pull the eyebrows down can now be treated with BOTOX® and Dysport®.  Before Dr. Steinsapir’s revolutionary break through method, it was not possible to treat these muscles without the risk of side effects.  Dr. Steinsapir can now safely perform a Microdroplet forehead lift without these concerns.  You will look years younger, refreshed, and relaxed without any evidence that you have had a service.

Schedule Now!

As you can imagine, Dr. Steinsapir is immensely popular.  He is widely known not only for his patent pending MicrodropletTM forehead lift, but also his much sought after DeepfillTM under eye Restylane® treatment to correct under eye hollows and dark circles.  He was recently quoted in Harper’s Bazaar regarding these innovative non-surgical methods.  According to Dr. Steinsapir “The ZoneliftTM combines the MicrodropletTM forehead lift with DeepfillTM Restylane® for the undereyes and gives results that are better than what can be accomplished with surgery.” Only Dr. Steinsapir performs these services.  If you have been frustrated with treatments that never seem quite right, you owe it to yourself to learn first hand what Dr. Steinsapir can accomplish for you.  For a limited time, enjoy a complimentary initial consultation.  If you choose, have treatment at the time of your visit.

Contact us today, and begin enjoy the results you have been dreaming about!

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