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Skin conditions
afflict many people. When these conditions affect the face,
consultation with a plastic surgeon is sometimes sought. Sun-damage,
coarse skin, fine wrinkling, irregular coloration, and other problems
can be helped with individualized treatment. A complete skin care
program might include surgical or non-surgical methods. This
comprehensive program should be individualized to achieve the optimal
result. Non-surgical methods might include a skin cream that contains
glycolic (glye-call-ik) acid that can improve fine facial wrinkling
and sun-damaged skin. Surgical treatment might include laser
resurfacing to minimize acne scars, pitting, and deeper facial
wrinkles.
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COLLAGEN AND FAT INJECTIONS
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Both collagen and fat injections
are used to fill depressions or lines in the skin. Collagen is a
normal component of all skin, however, the material used for an
injection is prepared from calf skin. Since this collagen is a foreign
protein, patients must be skin tested to see if they are allergic to
this material. The collagen is injected into both the deeper and
shallow layers of the skin in order to fill up a depression or line.
This is done in your doctor’s office and the patient can wear make up
immediately and return to work without looking obtrusive. Depending on
the area injected, there is a range of discomfort from essentially
none to some mild discomfort during the injection process. The
collagen is gradually broken down by the body, therefore, collagen
injections provide only temporary improvement; typically, maintaining
a significant improvement for approximately six months. Another
substance which can be injected or transplanted beneath lines or
depression is the patient’s own fatty tissue. Since it is one’s own
tissue there is no risk of allergy or rejection. However, much of the
fat that is injected in the area does not survive the transplant
process, so usually more than one injection is required. Some of the
injected fat does survive indefinitely, so after a series of
injections, the correction can be quite satisfactory and long lasting.
The injection of fat usually results in more swelling, discomfort and
bruising than with collagen. For more information, talk with your
cosmetic surgeon.
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FINE WRINKLES
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Fine wrinkles begin to appear in
our thirties and are often the result of excessive sun exposure, which
breaks down the collagen (cahl-oh-jin) and elastin (ee-last-in) in our
skin. Continued facial movement such as frowning or squinting also
tends to carver permanent expression lines, or wrinkles, into the
face. Chemical peel, or chemosurgery (Kee-moh-sur-jer-ee), is one
technique for restoring wrinkled, scarred, or blemished facial skin.
Laser facial resurfacing, utilizing a CO2 laser, is a newer method of
removing wrinkles, fine and deep facial lines. The procedure takes
around one hour using a sedational local anesthesia. Afterwards, the
face is covered with a protective dressing for 2 to 5 days, then
followed by a al ointment. Redness takes a few weeks to subside, but
make up is used in approximately 5 days and then the patient can go
out. Sun protection with a sun screen is critical afterwards. The face
will have a more youthful, smoother appearance. For additional
information on fine wrinkles, please talk to Dr. Rick Smith at
Michigan Plastic Surgery.
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SCAR CORRECTION
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Automobile accidents, dog bites,
and other injuries can cause obvious scars. These scars can often be
improved by revision surgery using plastic surgical techniques.
Realigning the scar along natural lines, narrowing the scar, or
flattening it are some of the methods utilized in scar improvement. In
addition, methods of dermabrasion (derm-uh-brazion), sanding, and
resurfacing (using a CO2 laser) may also be used. Sometimes no
specific surgical treatment is advised for a scar. This is especially
true when the injury has been recent and not enough time has been
allowed to achieve the optimal final appearance. In general, most
scars, depending on the body part, require a period of six to twelve
months for full maturation (match-ur-ration). For more information on
scar correction, talk to Dr. Rick Smith at Michigan Plastic Surgery.
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ALPHA HYDROXY
ACIDS (GLYCOLIC AND LACTIC)
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Alpha hydroxy acids have been
used for years in cosmetic products, but now these “chemicals” are
being used to remove outer layers of the skin, through a process
called “chemical exfoliation.” There are many different products on
the market in more places than you may think. Alpha hydroxy acids are
derived from natural substances such as sugarcane, citrus fruits,
grapes and milk and are sometimes called glycolic, lactic, citric, or
salicylic acids. The acids are dispersed in different levels of
concentration depending on the product. Medical preparations may
contain up to 70 percent and are quite effective. This type of
treatment is usually used for patients who want to take care of early
skin changes, discoloration, and fine wrinkles. Here’s how it
works....the solution is applied to the skin, left on for a few
minutes until a tingling sensation is felt, and then gently washed off
with cold water. The skin may look red for up to a several hours after
the tingling stops and you may notice some skin flakes to fall off
after the peel. Next, comes the application of a mild aha preparation,
nightly, every two weeks, for six weeks, to keep up with the low-level
acid activity. After the process is complete, most patients will
notice a smoother appearance, free of discoloration, blemishes and
fine wrinkles.
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SKIN CANCER-REMOVAL
AND RECONSTRUCTION
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Skin cancer, also known as
melanoma, affects the pigment of the skin and is primarily treated by
cutting the cancer out in surgery. Procedures have advanced to where
surgeons don’t have to cut much, amputations are no longer done, few
skin grafts are needed, and excisions have become smaller. If the
cancer is small, the procedure can be done in an outpatient facility
or doctor’s office. The procedure may be a simple excision, which
leaves a thin, hardly visible scar. If the cancer is large or has
spread to other parts of the body, major surgery will probably be
required. Modern procedures can save your life, but they may leave you
with cosmetic imperfections or functional complications. Depending on
the location and severity of the cancer, you might be left with
anything from a small scar to permanent changes in the facial
structure of your nose, ear, or lip. Regardless of who performs the
procedure, a cosmetic surgeon can be an important part of your
treatment. Reconstruction after removal of skin cancer includes scar
revision to transference of tissue flaps from other parts of your
body. A cosmetic surgeon can repair damaged tissue, rebuild body
parts, and usually restore your face to acceptable appearance and
function. If you want more information on skin cancer and
reconstructive surgery, talk to Dr. Rick Smith at Michigan Plastic
Surgery.
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