Question:
I love the idea of injectable fillers. I would like to fill in my nasolabial folds so they are less noticeable. Is it also possible to full out my cheeks just a little with injectables?

Answer:
Injectable fillers has really enhanced my practice and has definitely changed the way many of us look at treatments for the aging face.  Injectable fillers can serve as an alternative to more invasive facial surgery and also as an adjunct to necessary facial surgery.  Placement of injectable fillers in the nasolabial fold is not only the most popular use of these injectable fillers, but, in many cases, it is the only area where the FDA has approved their use.  Having said that, they are used in almost every part of the face and the safety profile is outstanding.  I happen to use several different injectable fillers.  I use them frequently in areas outside of the nasolabial folds and especially like what they do for the cheeks.  I use them to fill in areas where the patient has lost considerable volume to their face, but, I also use injectable fillers to help sculpt the face.  Patients who desire a more sculpted cheek bone are able to see how they would look with just a short office procedure.  I am a big fan of injectable fillers and you can certainly have the procedures that you have asked about at the same time.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I would like a cleft chin. Currently I have no chin, or it recedes so much it seems that way. Can I get exactly the chin I want with a chin implant? Would adding the cleft add a lot to the cost of the surgery?

Answer:
Many people who consult me for rhinoplasty also have questions with regards to their chin.  An underdeveloped chin is actually quite common.  Placement of a chin implant or genial augmentation, can be performed under mild sedation and the recovery period is about a week.  A chin implant in the proper patient will strengthen the jaw line and give the patient an appearance of strength which can really boost self confidence.  I have placed clefts into chins but, I have to say, that even the best surgical outcome is not as attractive as a natural cleft.  Chin implants do not come with clefts already in them, and this requires resection of a portion of the muscles and suturing in the proper location.  Placement of a cleft in addition to a chin implant  does increase the cost of the chin augmentation procedure but, not by a great deal.  I would be happy to see you in consultation so that we can show you with the use of computer imaging the effects a chin implant will have on your appearance.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I believe that I am a good candidate for a mid-face lift. I am 42 years old.  How long do the effects of this procedure last?

Answer:
A mid-face lift is a procedure designed to elevate your cheeks.  If you take two fingers and place them onto your face just below your eye, that is the cheek fat pad.  If you gently elevate this fatpad in a upward and outward direction, you will get a sense of what a mid-face lift procedure can accomplish.  You should notice that your face appears more full, your cheek bones should be more defined, and the nasolabial folds around your mouth will also decrease to some degree.  The mid-face lift will address areas of your face that a traditional facelift does not manage as effectively.  The results of your mid-face lift should last several years.  Another approach to your mid-face as a 42 year old may be the placement of dermal filler into the areas of your face that will help fill in some of the areas that have become less full or descended as you have aged.  The dermal fillers can be placed as an in office procedure and will give you immediate results.  As you are probably aware, these results are only temporary with dermal fillers, but, can be longer lasting with the use of fat or longer lasting fillers.  I would be happy to see you in consultation to discuss your concerns with your mid face and some of the options that are available to you.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I am African American and I would like to undergo rhinoplasty. My nostrils flare too much and the tip is too bulbous in appearance. I really am not sure what I want my nose to look like however.  Do you have pictures to choose from or a computer program that will allow me to visualize my face with different noses?

Answer:
I do use computer imaging during all of my rhinoplasty consultations.  The software not only allows you to see potential changes to your nose prior to rhinoplasty but, it also gives me the opportunity to discuss with you the changes to your nose that you would like to see and which changes will look best with your particular face.  I also find this preoperative consultation with morphing software helpful so that I can also provide you with realistic expectations regarding your nose.  You can see pre and post operative photos of other individuals who have undergone the procedure by going to my web site at www.renudc.com and clicking on the “photos” portion of the web site.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I have had liposuction in the past and was disappointed at the unevenness of my skin afterwards.   I would like to try SlimLipo on my thighs.  Are better result seen in terms of the smoothness of the skin with no irregularities afterwards?

Answer:
One of the potential complications of liposuction with any technique is irregularities of the skin and uneven fat distribution to the treated areas.  The SlimLipo procedure does have an advantage in this respect as a specific amount of laser energy is delivered to a specific area of fat being treated.  The more the fat the more the energy which is delivered by the laser.  The laser energy can be calculated to a very consistent amount based on the amount of fat in any one region.  This takes a great deal of the guess work out of the SlimLipo procedure.  The suctioning component of the SlimLipo procedure is less of an issue in the treatment of the fat compared to traditional liposuction as the the laser energy delivered is really the work horse of the procedure, helping to insure a more uniform treatment of the fat being removed.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I am an African American female and I am interested in rhinoplasty. I would like my nose to extend just a bit more than it does, and I would also like it narrowed. Would you be able to do this surgery so that my nose still looks natural for my ethnicity?

Answer:
Treatment of the African American nose and other ethnic rhinoplasty often times involves lengthening the nose, strengthening the nose, and thinning the nose.  In order to lengthen the nose, cartilage is used to help support and extend the nasal tip.  These grafts are obtained from your nasal septum and occasionally from ear cartilage if there is a deficiency in septal cartilage.  The tip is also sculpted with specially placed sutures and sometimes, a graft is placed on the nasal tip to provide length and tip definition.  By extending the nasal tip it also tends to narrow the nose at the lower portion of the nose.  If the nose still needs to be narrowed and the extension of the nose and tip graft are not sufficient, it may be because your nostrils also need to be narrowed as is often times the case.  I think the worst noses are the ones that are overdone and unnatural.  My requests for ethnic rhinoplasty is that the patients tend to want changes to their nose but, they do not want to change some of the ethnic qualities of their nose they are fond of.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
I am 38 years old and about a seven on the Norwood scale. How many sessions would be required for the complete removal of hair on my head with laser hair removal?

Answer:
Laser hair removal is performed to treat hair that is in its growth cycle.  You are probably thinking that all hair is growing so it must all be in the growth phase, but this is not the case.  It is a specific cycle of the growth phase when the hair is most sensitive to laser energy and destruction of the hair follicle.  Having said that, for any area of hair removal desired, I would suggest planning for 5-6 sessions and a touch up in 6 months to 1 year after your sessions are complete.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »

Question:
Can you tell me about the after care for SlimLipo treatments? What should I expect for the first twenty-four hours?

Answer:
The aftercare for SlimLipo is actually quite simple.  You will be required to wear a compression garment of some sort for the first week or two after surgery no matter which part of your body has had the procedure.  If you are having abdominal SlimLipo you will also be required to use an abdominal binder for the first one or two day following surgery.  You may remove the abdominal binder after the residual  fluid, some blood, and even small amounts  of liquified fat has ceased drainage from your incision sites.  You will be able to shower the day of your procedure and can remove the compression garment to do so.  You can expect some discomfort for which pain medications will be provided as needed, however, many of my patients are fine with extra strength Tylenol. I encourage you to ambulate the day of your procedure as this will help avoid post procedure complications.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

No Comments »