Sister

RW_Nov10_Layout 1 9/16/10 11:16 PM Page 52
REDESIGNING WOMEN
A
ccording to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 88 percent of cosmetic procedures performed in 2009 were minimally invasive. For a fraction of the cost and time of cosmetic
surgeries—which happened to decrease by 9 percent from 2008 to
2009—minimally invasive or nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, like
Botox and microdermabrasion, have become go-to options for people looking to enhance their look.
Although nonsurgical procedures lack the permanence of their
surgical counterparts and
aren’t suited for extensive
augmentation, they can be
advantageous. Nonsurgical
procedures are great for
“test driving” a new look before going under the knife.
They also allow people to
see if their desired look can
be achieved with a minor
enhancement.
said. Find out how many times the plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist has performed your desired procedure and seek out previous patient results.
Noninvasive facelifts
The same technology used for seeing babies in the belly is now
used in a new device for firming and lifting faces. Noninvasive, ultrasound energy allows the Ulthera System to let practitioners visualize
areas beneath the
skin’s surface, then directly target the tissue
with low levels of heat
energy. This causes
the skin to initiate the
body’s healing mechanisms, resulting in
new and improved
collagen support and
gradual firming of skin
tissue. “It continues to
tighten and lift for
three more months as
the body lays down
new collagen,” said
With the nose being one
San Francisco-based
of your face’s more promiplastic surgeon Dr.
nent features, a nose job
Leonard W. Gray. “It’s
gone awry can be a total
a collagen builder
life ruiner. Why not try out the
and booster.”
new nose beforehand?
The Ulthera System
Los Angeles-based facial
technology can be
plastic surgeon Dr. Alexanused on the brow,
der Z. Rivkin, a pioneer in the
face, jowls and upper
nonsurgical nose job, uses
neck to transform lax
fillers, like Radiesse and Perskin, no matter the
lane, to give your nose a
type, at any age. For
new shape.
example, when used
Many African-American
for a “brow lift,” results
patients who seek rhinomay include less
plasty want to raise their
hooding and laxity of
nose bridge and better dethe eyelid skin for a
fine its tip, which they can
more “open” look
do with the fillers. (For examaround the eyes.
ple photos, visit
While you won’t get
s2smagazine.com/magaresults that rival a surzine.) “A plus to this procegical facelift, you will
dure is that it’s subtle, so
see and feel a differyou’re not changing your
ence. “It’s a tightening
ethnicity; you’re not changthat people notice
ing your look,” Dr. Rivkin said.
and appreciate,” Dr.
“You’re just adjusting a couGray said.
ple of things here and there
Depending on the
to look symmetrical.”
treated area, the proThe procedure takes
cedure, known as
about 15–30 minutes, and
Ultherapy, lasts 30 to
there is zero recovery time,
60 minutes. There is no
although slight bruising and
damage to the outer
by
Jan
F.
Lee
swelling might occur.
layers of skin, so there
The extent of the results
is no down time.
depends on which filler is used. (Radiesse lasts about 10 to 12 months
Sometimes redness may occur, but it only lasts for about a day or two,
while Perlane lasts a little less than that.) The dermal filler Artefill will
said Dr. Gray.
give you permanent results. This procedure, depending on your loResults vary from patient to patient, and if you desire a repeat
cale, can cost around $2,000.
treatment, you can do so a minimum of three months following your
Fillers are also used to recreate other surgical procedures, such as
initial treatment. As for the price, it depends on what areas you’re
cheek augmentation.
treating and where you live, but full face treatment can cost up to
When choosing a practitioner, “it’s important to go to somebody
$2,000.
who has experience in specifically this type of [procedure],” Dr. Rivkin
Can you look like you’ve had
a facelift without going under
the knife?
52
S2S | NOVEMBER 2010
Photo by Lorado/Istockphoto.com
Nonsurgical
nose jobs