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92 AUSTINMONTHLY.COM / JUNE 2014 W ith all the hype over the Internet and television, it’s easy to get over- whelmed and not know where to start in your journey to improve your appearance. According to recent statistics from the Ameri- can Society for Plastic Surgery, there were over 15 million cosmetic surgeries performed in 2013 – up 3% from the previ- ous year. Due to the increase in demand, the industry responds with what seems like an end- less array of new products and procedures. However, it is very important to maintain a skepti- cal attitude and carefully evalu- ate new advances. What I have found is that when the patient is well educated in all the differ- ent available procedures and is involved in the decision process, they can be better prepared to discern the difference between fickle and reliable information. As technology and surgical techniques evolve and improve, more people are asking for quicker procedures that involve a short recovery and still achieve long-lasting results. I am a big advocate and frequently perform non-invasive-minimal- downtime procedures such as soft tissue fillers, Botox injections, chemical peels and laser. These are key components for a complete treatment and prevention of facial aging. So why would someone bother doing a facelift? Why go through the downtime? Should I just do fillers, Botox, laser or a chemical peel? To answer these questions, we need to understand the ag- ing process and the limitations of each treatment option. As we go through our 40s and 50s, facial aging starts to take place. The skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles start to appear, the muscular layers and ligaments become laxed and the bony structures of the face show some signs of contraction. Despite the fact that everybody ages differ- ently, the tissues of the face and neck start to sag in predictable ways, producing looseness in the neck, jowls, sunken cheeks and deep folds on the corners of the mouth. Dermal fillers can work fabulously camouflaging the contour irregularities and lessening the deep facial folds. Botox can prevent wrinkles. Laser and chemical peels can invigorate the skin. These op- tions are wonderful and avoid downtime, but they definitely cannot do what a facelift can. A good facelift should address the muscular layer of the face and restore its position to a more youthful one. These will correct the neck lines and folds, jowls, reestablishing cheek contour and soften the folds around the mouth. In addition, tighten- ing the muscles leaves the skin without any tension and avoids the dreaded “pulled” look. A well done facelift remains the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and should not be feared. I work exclusively on face and neck and my treatment plans are individualized to each patient based on their goals and needs. My expertise and comfort level when performing facelifts allow me to address the muscular layer of the face along Beyond the Buzz SHOULD I DO FILLERS, BOTOX OR HAVE A FACELIFT? BY DR. MARCELO ANTUNES 3807 Spicewood Springs, Ste. 201 Austin, TX 78759 (512) 477-3778 freshfaceaustin.com with the skin to create a natural- looking and long-lasting result. The standard facelift performed in our practice addresses the nasolabial folds, jowls and neck, restoring the volume to the cheeks and creating a defined jawline from the chin to the ear. This results in a refreshed, vibrant and natural appearance. DR. ANTUNES is a fellowship trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon. He is one of only a handful of board certified surgeons in the area who dedicates his practice solely to plastic surgery of the face and nose. RESIDENCY TRAINING: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FELLOWSHIP TRAINING: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER & QUATELA CENTER FOR PLASTIC SURGERY SPECIAL PROMOTION SECTION HEALTH INNOVATIONS 90-99_HealthInnovations_Jun14.indd 92 5/8/14 12:01 PM
