Posted by A K on Fri, Apr 06, 2012 @ 08:24 AM
After a point, we can no longer avoid the cropping up of those pesky wrinkles. You want to look more youthful and less tired but you're apprehensive about surgery. Well, you now have another effective option! Ultherapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical ultrasound procedure to take care of those wrinkles and that droopiness.
Its a quick 30-60 minute treatment for your face and neck and is essentially a lunchtime procedure. Its fast, efficient and highly effective.
The procedure is as follows: A smooth applicator that's carefully placed on your skin produces an onscreen image that helps Dr. Kwak quantitatively understand where the energy needs to be directed and at which tissue areas. Its then used to project low levels of focused heat below the skin, leaving the surface undisturbed. The skin's response stimulates the effective growth of new collagen. Gradual tightening and firming is clearly visible, eventually leading to a natural lift in skin.
The fact that Ultherapy treats not only treats the skin but also targets and deals with the underlying foundational support tissues in precise and highly accurate manner, ensures satisfying and long term results.
As usual, we want to provide you with all the possible resources you might need to research and make an informed decision. Make sure to download an Ultherapy patient guide, watch Ultherapy videos and read about what to expect after the procedure. Also do check out Dr. Kwak's answers to Ultherapy FAQs on RealSelf.com here. For images of before and after shots, click here.
Dr. Edward Kwak is one of Manhattan's premier facial plastic surgeons. Book your first consultation today!
Posted by A K on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 09:18 AM
Humans have an innate desire to consistently look their best. And in today's world of constant media saturation, this desire is only heightened. When faced with images of celebrities with their teams of hair & makeup people, cosmetic surgery access and such, we are more and more motivated to look a certain way. And this is nothing to be ashamed of! Many women (and increasingly now, men) consider cosmetic surgery but not many have a firm grasp of what it's all about. Here's our FAQ on the issue to help aid you make that all-important decision. Because a simple nose job can change your life. We're going to be doing a series of posts focusing on singular procedures, especially those offered here at ESK Facial Plastic Surgery. Today, we look at a broad overview.
Cosmetic surgery is essentially an elective surgical procedure to reshape and sculpt facial or bodily structures to improve appearance and boost a person's self esteem. It is important to have completely realistic expectations when opting for plastic surgery. Listen intently to your doctor - he will let you know what to expect. Cosmetic surgery includes everything from BOTOX to rhinoplasty (more commonly known as a "nose job"), from specifically Cosmetic eyelid surgeries (blepharoplasty) to lip enhancements. There's endless options for achieving your desired look. Procedures can be invasive (such as a facelift) or non-invasive (such as wrinkle treatment).
Cosmetic surgery can make you look and feel your absolute best - it can improve social relationships, job performances and help achieve long term life goals. If you're convinced that this is for you, you should research the procedure fully (like reading this blog coherently) and then make an appointment with a specialist in your area. If you are based in New York, head over to ESK Facial Plastic Surgery and have your first consultation (we also have online consultations for outstation patients).
Back in 2007, nearly 12 million cosmetic surgery procedures were done in the US alone. This shows the innate desire within people to be the best that they can. Technological advances can be in part attributed to the sky-rocketing number of people investing in cosmetic surgery. New plastic surgery breakthroughs continue to happen. Plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic & reconstructive surgeries. Like any other surgery, there are associated risks (mostly to do with invasive procedures) so its important to do thorough research and be in sync with your doctor.
If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment, tweet us or post on our facebook wall. Make your first consultation today! We're always happy to assist you in this fruitful journey.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Mon, Oct 24, 2011 @ 07:46 AM
There is a basic trait of human nature that leads us down a dangerous path when we apply it to facial plastic surgery (or any medical procedure). It is our tendency to minimize the risks of activities that we as a society engage in regularly. Even if we have no personal experience with the activity, once it becomes popularly accepted and declines in status from extraordinary to ordinary, we tend to take its safety for granted. Such is the case with Botox.
When first introduced in the late 1980s, Botox was used by ophthalmologists to treat disorders of the optic muscle. The product’s ability to relax muscles showed intriguing potential for reducing facial lines and wrinkles. In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox for use as a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. At first perceived as an anti-aging tool of vain Hollywood actresses and celebrities, it didn’t take long for society to recognize the obvious benefits of Botox.
Demand soon brought its price within the reach of mainstream America, and Botox quickly became the top nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the U.S.
When Botox was first introduced, it was typically performed by highly skilled New York plastic surgeons. As its popularity spread, Botox became a “big money” item and began to attract a broader field of less expert and often inexperienced practitioners. Today, Botox injections are available at day spas, dermatologists, cosmetologists, nail salons, and even home parties. People have forgotten that, although Botox is not surgery, it is still a medical procedure with serious risks and potential side effects. Devastating consequences can and have resulted when Botox is administered by people who lack the training and expertise of Manhattan facial plastic surgeons.
Next time: What could go wrong?
Posted by Edward Kwak on Wed, Sep 21, 2011 @ 04:30 PM
Low cost and zero recovery time have made Botox New York’s most popular facial cosmetic procedure (see our previous post). Botox eliminates moderate to severe facial wrinkles that form over time as the result of repetitious muscle movement. Botox is particularly effective on dynamic wrinkles that form on the forehead, between the eyebrows and around the eyes.
After Botox treatment, facial skin becomes smoother, unlined and younger-looking. Botox is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. In a non-surgical procedure, tiny amounts of Botox are injected directly into the muscles that underlie facial wrinkles. Botox works by blocking the nerve impulses to the targeted muscles, decreasing the muscle movement that causes skin to wrinkle. Botox treatments typically take 10 minutes and require no recovery period. Discomfort during the procedure is minimal. Improvements in skin quality are usually evident within days with results lasting for up to 4 months, although this can vary from patient to patient.
Botox has become such a common cosmetic procedure that many people believe it to be an extremely safe, fairly benign treatment. However, the face is a delicate and complex area. If not performed by a highly trained, skilled and experienced NY facial plastic surgeon, any cosmetic facial procedure has the potential to cause permanent injury or disfigurement. Inexpertly performed Botox procedures have, in some cases, resulted in permanent nerve damage, leaving patients with a “frozen” face.
If you are considering Botox, make sure you obtain the attractive results you desire by scheduling your Botox treatment with a board-certified New York facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Edward Kwak. Dr. Kwak has the specialized medical training, practical experience and professional expertise required to ensure that Botox gives you the fresh, young, attractive appearance you desire.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Thu, Sep 15, 2011 @ 07:19 AM
Sometimes referred to as an “instant facelift,” Botox is by far the most popular non-surgical facial cosmetic procedure in the U.S. with both women and men. Last year, more than 2.4 million Botox procedures were performed in the U.S., about 2.2 million on women and slightly more than 225,000 on men.
Female Botox patients still outnumber men 9 to 1; but since 1997 when a total of 65,157 Botox procedures were performed, Botox procedures for men have increased 500% more than Botox procedures for women. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), between 1997 and 2010, Botox treatments for men increased 4171.7% while Botox for women increased 3592.9%.
Consistently ranked No. 1 on lists of NY facial plastic surgery procedures, Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) has been the runaway most popular non-surgical facial cosmetic procedure in Manhattan and the U.S. since 2000; even though it did not gain FDA approval until 2002. In the 9 years between 2002 and 2010, the total number of Botox procedures performed in the U.S. increased by more than 50% overall.
Reflecting the experience of Manhattan facial plastic surgeons, Botox use was heaviest among people between the ages of 35 and 50 when wrinkles and facial lines generally become more pronounced. Men and women ages 35 to 50 accounted for almost 49% of the total number of Botox procedures performed last year, according to the 2010 annual ASAPS survey of U.S. plastic surgeons. Men and women aged 51 to 64 accounted for slightly more than 29% of Botox patients in the U.S.; young adults aged 19 to 34 for 15%; seniors over 65 for 6.6%.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Fri, Aug 12, 2011 @ 06:03 AM
To introduce our fabulous new Ulthera cosmetic procedure, ESK Facial Plastic Surgery in New York is offering a $100 savings on Ulthera procedures. This introductory special will only be available for a limited time, so register online today to receive $100 off your Ulthera procedure. Registration is easy; just click the link.
Ulthera is a revolutionary non-surgical ultrasound treatment that rolls back the clock, giving your face a younger, fresher appearance. Ultrasound treatments tighten both the surface layer of facial skin and rejuvenate the skin’s deep foundation layer that provides the critical underlying support necessary to keep skin smooth and young-looking. Ulthera treatments of the face and neck typically last 30 to 60 minutes during which time ultrasound therapy gently and gradually restores skin and tissue memory, alleviating the sagging skin and wrinkles that appear as we age – without surgery. (Click here to watch videos about how Ulthera works.) In just a few months, this gravity-defying skin treatment rejuvenates the skin on your face and neck, reducing and eliminating wrinkles and shaving years off your appearance. To see before and after photos of real patients who have undergone Ultherapy, click here. You’ll be amazed at the results that can be achieved in a short period of time!
While every patient is different, most New York cosmetic surgery patients experience only mild discomfort during their Ultherapy sessions. Before beginning treatments, Dr. Kwak will carefully explain the Ulthera procedure to you, answer your questions and discuss options for making the procedure as comfortable as possible. Ultherapy patients experience no downtime and can return to their regular activities immediately with no restrictions. Some patients experience mild, temporary flushing in the treated area; but reactions are typically mild and of short duration.
Visit the ESK Facial Plastic Surgery website today for complete information and to register to receive $100 off your Ulthera procedure.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Wed, Aug 03, 2011 @ 06:49 AM
Brides aren’t the only ones who want to look smashing on their big day. Mothers of the bride (and groom) are scheduling a little nip-tuck or a couple of Botox treatments with New York facial plastic surgeons before their daughter’s (or son’s) wedding day arrives, and E! reality star Kris Jenner is no exception.
With daughter Kim Kardashian’s lavish August wedding to New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries quickly approaching, Mama Jenner recently underwent a NY facelift that has received rave reviews from daughters Kim and Khloe. With paparazzi expected to mob the celebrity nuptials and the ubiquitous television crew recording every moment, 55-year-old Jenner wanted to make sure she’d look picture-perfect when daughter Kim walks down the aisle.
Pre-wedding NY facial cosmetic surgery isn’t limited to celebrity moms, plenty of Average Anns and Ordinary Olivias are scheduling facial cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures like Ultherapy to rejuvenate their appearance before their son or daughter's wedding day. Mothers of the bride and groom aren’t trying to steal the spotlight away from their children; they simply want to look their best for wedding photos and videos. When parents take a walk down memory lane in the years to come and page through photo albums or cue up their child’s wedding video, they want to be proud of their appearance on their child’s special day.
The following facial plastic surgery procedures are among the most popular with mothers of brides and grooms:
- Wrinkle treatment with Botox injections and other skin fillers to eliminate wrinkles and worry lines.
- Cosmetic eyelid surgery to open up sagging, hooded upper eyelids and remove baggy, dark circles under lower lids.
- Lip enhancement for a more youthful, sexier lip.
- Neck liposuction to remove excess fat rolls and double chins.
- Browlifts and forehead lifts to remove old, sagging skin and deep forehead creases.
- Facelifts to rejuvenate the entire face.
- Ultherapy non-surgical face and neck treatment.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Tue, Aug 02, 2011 @ 07:23 AM
Weddings are magical -- and expensive. In Manhattan, the average cost of that special Cinderella moment runs from $25,000 to $35,000; but special venues, large guest lists, designer gowns and premium catering services can send those figures rocketing skyward. Weddings have morphed from simple ceremonies into lavish celebrations.
Today, weddings are as much about creating memories that will last a lifetime as they are about tying the knot. To preserve those memories, wedding couples want every moment of their wedding documented. Selecting the wedding photographer and wedding videographer is now as important as choosing the band that will play at the reception. Wedding couples spend an average of $3,000 to $5,000 on their wedding photo album and additional framed photos and another $2,000 to $3,000 on a professionally-produced and edited wedding video, with prices for premium services likely to double the cost.
Is it any wonder that wedding couples want to look picture perfect on their wedding day?
Knowing they’ll be in the spotlight on their wedding day and wanting to make sure they look fabulous in their wedding photos and videos, many brides and a growing number of grooms are scheduling Botox procedures and skin rejuvenation treatments with Manhattan facial plastic surgeons before their wedding day. Women are waiting longer to get married but don’t want those early wrinkles that start appearing in the mid- to late-30s to show up in their wedding videos. Brides want their wedding photos to reflect the youthful radiance they feel on their wedding day. Scheduling Botox treatments with a board-certified NY facial plastic surgeon ensures that they will look fabulous on their wedding day and in their wedding photos.
Posted by Edward Kwak on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 @ 03:40 PM
NBC’s Biggest Loser has inspired thousands of Americans to put down the potato chips, lace up their Nikes and tackle their own weight problems. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every 3 American adults is obese. Most of us could stand to lose a lot more than just a pound or two. Our ability to identify with the weekly struggles of the Biggest Loser contestants as they fight to sweat off the pounds may be what makes the show so compelling.
We are drawn into the heart-wrenching stories of these people who have been fighting the battle of the bulge often since they were children. We cheer them on during the weekly challenges. We celebrate their successes and feel their pain when they fail. Interest in the program is so high that many health clubs have started running their own Biggest Loser programs, forming teams, holding motivational workout sessions, engaging in challenges and offering incentives to encourage their members to ramp up the exercise and peel off the pounds. And many of people are signing up and posting weight loss figures that would make any Biggest Loser team proud.
There is no down side here. Losing excess weight, increasing exercise and eating a healthier diet are proven winners when it comes to improving health. But there is something viewers don’t see on the Biggest Loser episodes that happens to your face and body when you experience significant or sudden weight loss. It’s a solvable problem, but one that can be disheartening to weight losers and diminish the pleasure and achievement they feel in accomplishing their weight-loss goal. We are talking about sagging skin and wrinkles that remain after significant weight loss.
To Be Continued...
Posted by Edward Kwak on Wed, Jul 06, 2011 @ 10:24 AM
Botox Cosmetic has been the gold standard for facial wrinkle removal for years. Today’s most popular wrinkle treatment, Botox is facing some stiff competition from newer treatments, including Dysport, Restylane, Juvaderm, Radiesse and Sculptra. As Manhattan facial plastic surgeons have begun to develop long-term experience with these newer products, they are discovering that Botox is not always the best choice for every type of facial wrinkle. As Dr. Edward Kwak explains on the ESK website, removal of dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles is more effectively achieved with different skin fillers. Botox can no longer be considered the one-size-fits-all solution to facial wrinkles.
A recent study compared the effectiveness of Botox and Dysport, two different kinds of botulinum toxin used to treat dynamic wrinkles, in alleviating crow’s feet. Dysport was found to be somewhat superior to Botox in erasing the tiny lines that gather at the outer corners of the eye. However, it is important to note that the study, recently published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, was limited to a 30-day trial of only 90 participants. A lengthier trial of a larger cross-section of patients will be required to determine whether Dysport can maintain its edge over Botox in larger trials and over the long term.
Study participants were injected with Botox on one side of their face and Dysport on the other. While there was no discernible difference when facial muscles were at rest, both researchers and patients preferred the Dysport side during normal activities. The results took many plastic surgeons, who typically use the two products interchangeably, by surprise as both they and their patients have found the products to produce comparable results. Cosmetic surgeons also noted that some patients have a personal preference for one product over the other. Bottom line? Heed your facial plastic surgeon’s recommendation.
