The Truth About Plastic Surgery: Fact or Myth? (Part II)

By Dr. Chris Nichols, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Tacoma, WA

Cellulite can be permanently removed or treated.
Myth: Endermologie, Mesotherapy, Acoustic Wave Treatment, creams such as RevitaShape and Revitol and other products and devices that claim to treat cellulite are absolutely temporary. Cellulite is superficial fat which is trapped within the connective tissue attachments of the skin to the deeper tissues. Genes greatly determine if you will develop cellulite and unfortunately most women have some cellulite regardless of their weight. If you want to estimate how much cellulite you will have, assessing your grandmother, mother or aunts may be a good clue. No known durable, proven treatment for cellulite exists.

Sculptra, the latest FDA approved treatment for anti-aging, is the same as other fillers.
Myth: Sculptra is not a hyalluronic acid like Juvederm and Restylane and works in a much different manner to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Sculptra is Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLA), which has been used to make absorbable surgical suture materials for decades. Sculptra works differently from other injectable products. Tiny particles of PLA are diluted in a suspension of sterile water, carefully injected under in the skin, and then molded for optimal results. These particles of PLA then stimulate the formation of new collagen in the skin, adding volume over time. Sculptra injections do not cause instant changes like the hyaluronic acid products, but rather stimulate collagen growth over a period of several weeks to months. Typically Sculptra requires 3-4 treatments to achieve optimal results, but the results have been shown to last greater than 2 years.

Fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane and Botox are just as good as a facelift.
Truth: No fillers or Botox/Dysport can exactly achieve the results of a surgical facelift, however, the combination of Botox/Dysport and fillers can help postpone the appearance of aging. Botox can smooth the forehead while lifting and shaping the brows. Fillers can help fill in deeper lines and wrinkles and also plump up the lips and cheeks. The short term cost for fillers and Botox/Dysport is much less, however the results are not permanent, but can last up to a year or more and require little down-time compared to a surgical procedure.

Facelifts such as The Thread Lift or Lifestyle Lift are exactly the same as a traditional facelift.
Myth: Marketed as short in-office procedures with minimal recovery time, these types of facelifts are extremely temporary and many patients have been disfigured or experienced severe complications from procedures like these. The results are temporary since they don’t do anything to the deeper layers of skin and muscle tissue. If you’re looking for a more long lasting result, then a traditional facelift is the way to go. Remember to find a legitimate cosmetic surgeon, who is trained in this procedure and operates in a sterile operating room under general anesthesia. You may not be back at work the next day,day; however your results will last for years.

Botox vs. Dysport: They are the same thing.
Truth: Both are essentially purified forms of botulinum toxin A, which paralyze the nerve it is injected into. Botox is a solution, while Dysport is a suspension. Dysport can start to act faster in some people. Botox has been FDA approved in this country for years, while Dysport received FDA approval in 2009, however has been used in Europe for many years.

Why pay more for Botox or Dysport at a doctor’s office? It cost much less at a spa or salon.
Myth: The old saying is, you get what you pay for! The price of Botox is set by the manufacturer Allergan Medical and the price for Dysport is set by Medicis. If you are offered Botox or Dysport at huge discount, chances are it’s not from either manufacturer and could be a very diluted form or perhaps something that is not even real Botox or Dysport at all. When you are injected by a non-medical professional, such as in a salon or spa, the injector probably has insufficient or even no training, which can result in problems like asymmetry and droopy eyelids or brows. Facial anatomy knowledge is extremely important in minimizing the highly publicized negative outcomes. You should only be injected by a licensed and trained physician or nurse who specifically knows facial anatomy.

Fraxel (fractional laser skin rejuvenation) can give you the effect of a facelift non-surgically.
Myth: Despite a lot of advertising to the contrary, fractional lasers are not skin-tightening devices. However, they can be a good choice to correct sun damage, discoloration, fine lines and even acne scars. A small percentage of patients may achieve some skin tightening, but this is not a predictable benefit. While fractional lasers offer minimal down-time, they re quire several sessions compared to other types of lasers in order to offer more visible results. The rule of thumb is: the shorter the recovery time, the less improvement you can expect.