Michael J. Will, MD, DDS, FACS
Maryland (301) 874-1707
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Study Looks at Effects of Fillers on First Impressions
A new study found that the correction of nasolabial folds, commonly known as smile lines, using hyaluronic acid fillers affects the first impression one makes on others. Hyaluronic acid exists naturally in all living organisms and is a natural component of connective tissues; fillers in this category include Restylane and Juvederm.
The study by the Chicago Center for Facial Plastic Surgery had 22 participants who received injections of hyaluronic acid fillers into their nasolabial folds. Photos were taken of the subjects’ faces in a relaxed pose at baseline, optimal correction visit and four weeks after optimal correction.
Then 304 evaluators completed a survey rating first impressions for each photo. In total, 5,776 first impressions were recorded.
The findings indicated a significant improvement in mean first impression in several categories at the optimal correction visit. The categories included dating success; attractiveness; financial success; relationship success; athletic success; and overall first impression.
The authors concluded, “Full correction of the nasolabial folds with hyaluronic acid filler significantly and positively influences the first impression an individual projects.”
Commenting on the study, board certified dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Beer wrote, “When used correctly, they [hyaluronic acids] help restore more youthful proportions. For women, this includes higher cheekbones, fuller temporal areas, and more sculpted facial features. Hyaluronic acids may also be used to camouflage the bone loss associated with menopause and its loss of reproductive capacity. Transforming a postmenopausal face into one that has the features of a premenopausal face will have a profound effect on first impressions.”
The study appears in the November issue of the Dermatologic Surgery journal, and the abstract is available online.
Injectable for Double Chin Reduction Looks Promising
An injectable treatment for double chin reduction is showing promising results two years into a long-term study.
ATX-101, an injectable drug, reduces the amount of fat that develops under the chin (also called submental fat).
KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, maker of ATX-101, reported that 80% of participants in the study saw a significant reduction of fat under their chins after the first two years of the five-year trial.
“Treatment results with ATX-101 appear to be sustained and well-tolerated, which illustrates its potential as a novel, non-surgical approach to reducing submental fat,” said Kevin C. Smith, a dermatologist in Canada and an investigator in the Phase 2A and long-term follow up studies.
ATX-101 is a formulation of deoxycholate, which is a natural compound that breaks down dietary fat. The procedure is done over several sessions, during which the patient gets around 50 small injections of the treatment into the chin area. The injections work to eliminate fat under the skin’s surface.
“While these results are still preliminary, they support our expectation that ATX-101 may result in a long-term aesthetic correction,” said KYTHERA’s chief medical officer Patricia Walker, MD, PhD. “We look forward to continuing to follow these patients and to further characterizing the long-term safety and efficacy profile of ATX-101.”
Surgical Options for Double Chin Reduction
ATX-101 needs FDA approval before it becomes an option for treating double chins. There are cosmetic surgical options for patients looking to reduce their double chins.
A lower facelift or neck lift targets the chin. During a lower facelift, the skin is lifted and removed as necessary to make the transition between the chin, neck and lower face more defined.
Neck liposuction is another surgical option for reducing a double chin and restoring definition to the lower face. Submental liposuction gets rid of the sagging, fatty tissue below the chin and is a less invasive option than a facelift.
Read more about the ATX-101 trials.
5 Ways to Evaluate Your Cosmetic Surgeon Before Breast Augmentation
There are more than a few surgeons offering breast augmentation in Maryland, but not every one will help you achieve the cosmetic outcomes you desire.
If you are like the patients we see in Frederick county, you want good results the first time and you want a generally comfortable and positive experience.
Asking these 5 questions may help you achieve those goals.
1. Has your surgeon been through training specific for breast augmentation, and is he or she versatile enough to provide many options in breast augmentation?
Because some skills overlap, you might find different surgeons doing the same procedure. For example, you might see an ENT surgeon or an oral surgeon for rhinoplasty. Breast augmentation however, is very specific to plastic and cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgeons perform breast augmentation as a primary part of their surgical residency, and should therefore have a greater aptitude in a variety of techniques that can meet your needs.
2. Who will administer anesthesia during the procedure?
Anesthesia is considered safe with a trained practitioner, but in the wrong hands it can pose a pretty serious risk. Whoever administers anesthesia for you should be well trained, prepared for unexpected problems, and focused on your safety.
3. Who will guide you through surgery and oversee your recovery?
Although your cosmetic surgeon should be accessible and responsible for you, it is very common for the supporting staff to oversee much of the operation and assist patients through the process. Doing this is vital to both the success of the surgery and to the overall experience. Read more about our talented staff in Urbana.
4. Does your surgeon have privileges at a local hospital?
To perform breast augmentation at a hospital, the surgeon must prove or demonstrate a record of training for that field. If surgery isn’t done in a hospital, it will likely be in an outpatient surgical suite or surgery center. Read about Dr. Will’s hospital affiliations here.
According to a recent press release from the AAOMS, two oral and maxillofacial surgeons were among the first to arrive at Fort Hood after the tragic shooting November 5th.
Majors Mark Ranschaert, DMD and Joseph Dylan Bowles, DDS recalled the situation as “pretty chaotic” – “like being in a combat zone.” The surgeons arrived to find 30 injured soldiers and operating rooms that were already full.
The two men said they reverted to their training and “did what we do best: taking care of patients.” One patient with a severe neck wound was likely saved by the two surgeons, who stabilized the solider and quickly had him transferred to Scott and White University Medical Hospital.
As noted by the association, oral and maxillofacial surgeons “are indispensable in the hospital ER when it comes to repairing facial trauma caused by car crashes and street violence.”
Botox for a Breast Lift? News Team Investigates
A news station in Ohio recently aired this story on their evening broadcast, asking about the so-called Botox-Breast Lift; is it effective or a waste of money?
As cosmetic surgeon Mark Mandell-Brown explains, the basic idea behind the procedure is to relax certain muscles and change the patient’s posture in order to simulate a lifting of the breasts.
Although the breast lift is common, and Botox is practical and effective, most reputable surgeons will tell you the so-called Botox Breast Lift is not a cost effective treatment people should consider.
Reporter Liz Bonis asks, “Are we just throwing away 300 dollars [with this procedure]?”
“Yes,” says Dr. Mandell-Brown.
“Is there any research to support that this would be even remotely effective?”
“No. In reality, the tissue’s too heavy for that to happen.”
Plastic and cosmetic surgeons have coined the term “mommy makeover” to market a series of procedures intended to help women regain their pre-pregnancy figure.
The most common procedures offered as part of the mommy-makeover are the breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Pregnancy and raising children can bring unwanted body changes, and while diet and regular exercise can make a tremendous improvement, some of those unwanted changes can only be corrected through surgical means.
The Fox news video below features an explanation of the mommy makeover – its risks, benefits, cost – and also an interview with a satisfied patient.
Read more about liposuction.
Read more about a tummy tuck.
Breast Surgery Could be Key to Advancing the Field of Regenerative Medicine
An article in the latest issue of Wired magazine reports on how a biotech company is using breast surgery to advance the field of regenerative medicine. Cytori Therapeutics is trying to use stem cells from fat to help the body rebuild itself, and the firm’s CEO Chris Calhoun says they have figured out a way to augment breasts using stem cell–enriched fat tissue.
Cytori’s process for breast augmentation or breast reconstruction involves using liposuction to get fat cells (usually from the abdomen) from the patient. Next the fat is injected into the company’s Celution System where a centrifuge separates the fat cells from the stem and regenerative cells and prepares the cells for injection. Finally, a surgeon injects the cells into the breast for the augmentation or reconstructive procedure.
The cells don’t become breast tissue; rather, the fat cells in the mixture provide volume and the regenerative cells encourage the growth of a blood supply that the fat cells need to survive.
Cytori is focusing its technology on breasts because breasts don’t have much function beyond nursing a baby. According to the article: “The scientific and regulatory hurdles to getting Cytori’s cells into clinical use will be easier to clear for breasts than for other tissue: Breasts simply aren’t as necessary as other organs, so the bar for proving to regulators that the technology works will be lower.”
The company has completed almost a decade of trials on cell cultures, lab rodents and now humans. Cytori believes the same technology it is using for breast procedures could be used to regenerate other damaged tissue, such as in the heart or kidneys.
Cytori’s system has not yet received FDA approval, so it can’t be marketed in the U.S. (although doctors can purchase it).
3 SURGERY-FREE PROCEDURES TO GET YOU READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
With everything that we have to do during the holidays – from running around for presents for the kids to preparing the Thanksgiving turkey – it may seem like there is not enough time to refresh your appearance before putting yourself out in front of friends and family at the next big holiday party. With just a few weeks until the holidays begin, a non-surgical procedure is a great way to achieve the look you want without missing out on any of the festivities
Known for its tummy firming ways, abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is not traditionally considered to be a weight loss tool. By tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess fatty tissues and skin, a tummy tuck slims and tones the midsection. While abdominoplasty itself does not target weight loss, a tummy tuck may help patients successfully lose and keep weight off.
The women of Generation X are staying younger longer thanks to advances in beauty products, more knowledge about healthy lifestyles and freer attitudes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Gen X, the 46 million Americans born from 1965 to about 1979, is more than willing to spend money on anti-aging products and procedures. Gen-Xers rely on preventive anti-aging beauty regimens to a greater extent than boomers do, according to a marketing study on the generation for JWT, one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States.
Women of Gen X tend to look younger than their mothers and grandmothers did when they entered their 40s. This is thanks in part to less cigarette smoking, more sunscreen use and more knowledge about nutrition and the beauty industry.
Gen-Xers feel the need to look younger. A recent survey in Allure magazine found that 93 percent of female and 84 percent of male respondents said there is greater pressure to look younger today than ever before.
Here are some beauty “secrets” for aging gracefully that Gen X women are taking advantage of, according to the LA Times:
Better hair dyes and thickening products that keep hair full and fight the thinning that comes with age.
Advances in sunscreens and an increased awareness of the importance of protecting skin from the sun.
Makeup with luminizers that deflect the focus from wrinkles.
Advanced skin creams, such as those that speed up cell turnover or decrease the appearance of age spots.
At-home teeth-whitening kits and lip-plumping lipsticks.
An array of cosmetic procedures that reverse the signs of aging, including fillers and Botox.
Want to look and feel fabulous at 40? Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon to learn about the non-surgical and surgical cosmetic procedures available to help you look your best at middle age and beyond.
“Patient care was incredible! We are so very happy our child was referred to Dr. Will. We appreciate the attentiveness given to his medical condition. Will highly recommend to others.”
An injectable treatment for double chin reduction is showing promising results two years into a long-term study.
but not every one will help you achieve the cosmetic outcomes you desire.
A news station in Ohio recently aired this story on their evening broadcast, asking about the so-called 
The women of Generation X are staying younger longer thanks to advances in beauty products, more knowledge about healthy lifestyles and freer attitudes, according to the 
