There are a collection of surgical, minimally-invasive and non-invasive procedures that don’t get a lot of press or are overlooked for one reason or another. Part of the issue is that they might go under names that sound professional and scientific, but baffle the average customer.
For example, could you be 100% sure of the procedures referred to in this list?
- Botox for Hyperhidrosis
- Brachioplasty
- Mentoplasty
- Malarplasty
- Buccal Fat Removal
Rather than use these (slightly obscure in some cases) technical terms for the various procedures, let’s look at each one for the value that it brings. That way, you can tell right off the bat if it’s going to be right for you.
#1 Fighting Against Underarm Sweat
This is something that affects many people – yes, men and women alike – and it hasn’t taken long for the leader in injectables to produce a solution. Botox is perhaps best known as a treatment for dynamic wrinkles like frown lines and crow’s feet. Some might even know that it can be effective in treating migraines. A lesser known but no less effective use is in the treatment of excessive underarm sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis.
It’s a useful treatment for anyone looking towards the hot Houston summer, and one session takes just 30 minutes to complete with results lasting up to around six months. There can be some minor bruising where the tiny injections have taken place, but this shouldn’t prevent you from getting back to usual activities.
#2 Sculpting the Upper Arms to Perfection
Everyone’s eyes have been drawn to the First Lady’s upper arms ever since she’s been in the White House, and some site Mrs. Obama as the reason behind a spike in a procedure known as brachioplasty. Also called an Arm Lift, this is a surgical procedure designed to reshape the area from the underarm to the elbow.
Upper arm skin that sags and hangs is often referred to as “bat wings” and it is often the result of aging. There are also other causes, such as weight loss (the skin loses elasticity with age and sometimes doesn’t spring back as it should after weight loss) and hereditary conditions.
Dr. Vitenas will first make an incision in the inner portion of the arm, then remove fat and unwanted tissue. In some cases, liposuction may be performed at the same time to remove excess fatty deposits.
The result is a more sculpted, aesthetically pleasing upper arm, banishing the so-called “wings” and giving the patient renewed confidence when wearing sleeveless tops and swimwear.
#3 Creating a Stronger, More Confident Profile
This newfound confidence can be taken a step further with a chin augmentation procedure, technically known as mentoplasty. Dr. Vitenas will insert a synthetic implant in the chin, via an incision in the mouth or the crease beneath the chin.
If this is a bit hard to visualize, then there are some before and after photos on the website. The result is a stronger chin, and a subtle reshaping of the contours of the face. Patients generally look more confident and, by restoring balance to the face, more attractive. Chin augmentation can dramatically improve the facial profile and, for this reason, is often combined with rhinoplasty (nose job).
#4 Facial Re-Balancing Act
Aside from adding prominence to the chin, facial implants can be used during cheek augmentation, technically known as malarplasty, to create facial balance by making the cheekbones more prominent. Like the chin augmentation, it involves the insertion of implants, this time through incisions in the upper lip or sometimes the lower eyelid.
The cheek implants procedure can also be combined with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), which will help restore a youthful look to the upper face. Cheek implants can add that much-desired look of high cheekbones that we often associate with beauty and youth.
#5 Lose the Puppy Fat
Sometimes, the youthful look isn’t what you’re after. The buccal fat removal procedure was designed to remove fat from the cheeks to address unwanted fullness – otherwise referred to as a “baby face” or “chipmunk cheeks”. The result is often as surprising as it is subtle. In women, a more sculpted, elegant face emerges and in men a more masculine and sophisticated look is achieved.
It’s a quick procedure, performed under local anesthesia, with the buccal fat pads removed through an incision made inside the mouth. There is no outwardly visible scarring, and work can be resumed the next day. Exercise or strenuous activities should be avoided for about a week.
For more advice on facial or body rejuvenation surgery, and complementary procedures, as well as all aspects of plastic surgery and anti-aging treatments, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery, based in Houston, Texas, can be reached at (281) 484-0088.