You look at your face in the mirror and you notice that something is lacking. Whether you’ve lost volume to aging, or just never had it due to your bone structure, you don’t have to be content with flat, hollow, or receding contours anymore. Whether you want to permanently alter the planes and curves of your face with implants, or “audition” a new look with temporary dermal fillers, Dr. Philip Miller, expert New York City facial plastic surgeon, can help you re-shape your jawline, cheekbones, and chin to get the beautiful, harmonious look and Aesthetic Confidence™ you’ve always dreamed of having.

Restore Lost Facial Volume

Aging and sun damage deplete key elements in your face that may result in a look that’s drawn and gaunt. Collagen and elastin — building blocks of skin that keep it plump, pliable, and elastic — diminish with age. The fat that once made your cheeks lovely and pinchable dissipates, too. Even your underlying bone structure atrophies over the years, so that your face no longer has the support it enjoyed in your youth.

In the early stages of aging, this process of volume loss can be reversed with treatments that stimulate your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, such as laser therapy and microneedling. However, if you’ve already lost volume, Dr. Miller can plump up your midface and build up sagging cheekbones with a lush filler such as Voluma®, which is made of hyaluronic acid (HA) — a substance that your body produces naturally. Dermal fillers are so effective for improving facial volume, they are the second most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure performed each year.

But if you’re looking for a permanent option to restore lost facial volume, Dr. Miller can use fat from other areas of your body where you don’t need it (such as lower abdomen), and transfer it to your cheeks, where it helps restore the volume of the mid-face.

Create Model Cheekbones

You may have noticed that most celebrities and models have well-defined cheekbones. Cheekbones not only create an elegant, sophisticated look, but they also provide a natural lift to your lower face. Whether your cheekbones have receded over the years due to bone loss, or you’ve always been frustrated with flat cheekbones, Dr. Miller can reshape and contour your cheekbones with either high-quality implants or dermal fillers such as Voluma or Sculptra­®.

Building up your cheekbones with Sculptra, Voluma, or layering both is a great way to try out a new look. Sculptra adds volume by stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin over time. Voluma does the same by instantly plumping up and re-contouring your skin. Layering both dermal fillers gives you volume that’s both instant and long-lasting — up to a year or more.

Of course, the most dramatic way to re-sculpt your cheekbones is with permanent silicone implants. Dr. Miller chooses the size, shape, and angle that perfectly matches your unique beauty and facial structure. If you’d also like to compensate for lost skin volume, Dr. Miller can infuse your skin with Voluma at the same time you receive your cheek implants for complete facial rejuvenation.

Transform with a G.I. Jaw

Both men and women often long for the straight, clean jawline of a G.I. Joe or supermodel. Now you don’t have to be born with great bones to benefit from their effects. If your chin is receded or your jawline weak, Dr. Miller can resculpt your jaw and create a stronger chin with Sculptra and Voluma, or with permanent silicone implants. He may also suggest liposuction or Kybella® to remove excess fat and tighten the jawline skin.

Revive Your Facial Volume Today

Replenishing your skin and creating stronger, more lifted contours with either dermal fillers or facial implants is a great way to start the new year with a new you. Dr. Miller can even give you a preview of your new look via digital morphing. To set up an appointment and find out how fillers and implants can create the look of your dreams, call (646) 791-3025 or use the online form to book your consultation.

Read next, The Life-Changing Benefits of a Facelift

You’re considering a facelift but you’re wondering if it’s really worth the expense and downtime. If you’re listing the pros and cons while trying to come to a decision, a study from the Journal of the American Medicine Association (JAMA) Facial Plastic Surgery, supplies a number of new entries for your “pro” column. As it turns out, women who’ve had facelifts and other upper-face rejuvenation procedures aren’t just perceived as looking younger, but also as being more attractive, healthier, and more successful.

Dr. Phillip J. Miller, an expert facial plastic surgeon in New York City, has long promoted facelifts as one way to attain what he calls “Aesthetic Confidence®.” Dr. Miller’s patients relay that his surgeries do not just improve their appearance, but they have other life-changing benefits.

Some of these benefits include feeling happier and more confident after their surgery, and also that people react more positively to them than they did before. The following study, “Association Between Facial Rejuvenation and Observer Ratings of Youth, Attractiveness, Success, and Health” confirms his patients’ perceptions. Let’s explore each benefit so you can fully understand how, in the right hands,  life-changing a facelift can be.

Before and After 

The study included before-and-after photographs of twelve older women who’d either had eyelid surgery and a facelift, or eyelid surgery, a facelift, and a brow lift. Each of the 504 participants who looked at these photos in an online survey either saw the “before” or the “after” photograph from each of the twelve patients, but never saw both views.  

When the researchers looked at how the observers rated all of the photos, they found that…

The “Afters” Looked Younger

On average, women were estimated  4 to 5 years younger in their “after” shots than they were in their “before” shots.

Technique plays an important role in creating this youthful result. When performing a facelift, Dr. Miller always lifts the underlying SMAS (submucosal aponeurotic system) layer, along with the skin. Lifting the SMAS both vertically and horizontally creates a more youthful, uplifted face that appears much more natural than when lifting skin alone. The re-positioned SMAS also provides better support for your skin, allowing your facelift to last longer.

The “Afters” Were More Attractive

On a scale of 1 to 100, the “before” photos were rated “50” on attractiveness. The “after” photos jumped up to 68.

Another technique that Dr. Miller utilizes to restore a youthful visage is fat grafting. Dr. Miller often recommends fat grafting in combination with a facelift to get the best outcome for facial rejuvenation. The fat grafts fill in areas of lost volume on your face by using fat you’ve donated from a place where you have excess fat, such as your abdomen. Using an artist’s eye, Dr. Miller uses fat grafts to give your face more youthful and balanced contours. Another added benefit is the fat grafts also help your facelift heal.

The “Afters” Looked Much Healthier 

Using the same scale, the average of the “before” photos was just “50” on how healthy they looked. But the “after” shots gained 20 points.

Youthful vitality and health go hand in hand. To accelerate your healing and improve the quality of your skin overall, Dr. Miller recommends a skin rejuvenation procedure such as Fractora(TM) laser or microneedling in tandem with your facelift. Lasers and microneedling devices stimulate your skin to produce rejuvenating collagen. Your skin becomes thicker, stronger, smoother, and glows with health.

The “Afters” Looked More Successful

The study participants also rated that the women in the “after” pictures appeared more successful. The average “before” rating was only 50 but jumped to 61 for the “after” photos.

And, as Dr. Miller’s patients report, getting positive feedback on their appearance after a facelift or other cosmetic surgery really does give them a confidence boost. That confidence translates into more willingness to take risks in romance and on the job, leading to more success … and more confidence.

Rate Your Own “After” Photo

Not sure about getting a facelift, but still considering? As part of your facelift consultation, Dr. Miller can create a computer image that shows you what your life-changing results will be. Call Dr. Miller and his facial rejuvenation team to book your facelift consultation today. You deserve to live your after.

Read next, Are You an Ideal Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

Let’s face it: getting older is hard. Have you been poking and prodding at your face, trying to smooth out the wrinkles you see? If so, then the signs of aging are probably bothering you more than you think. Fortunately, plastic surgeons have many tools for non-invasive rejuvenation available. In fact, there are so many options that no one needs to spend even another minute worrying about how their skin looks.

Laser treatment is one of the most popular treatment types available for many different skin and aging concerns. Laser treatment uses light to control the skin’s natural processes and gradually heal the skin. The result is a refreshed and more youthful appearance. There are so many different types of laser treatments that choosing one can be totally overwhelming (a good problem to have)! If you’re thinking about laser treatments to look and feel younger, here’s what you need to know about choosing the laser that’s right for you—whether that’s a full laser option like Fractora, or a radiofrequency treatment like Face Tite or Tite-FX.

What are Your Goals?

Before you choose the laser treatment that’s right for you, you need to think about what your goals are for the procedure. Are you interested in repairing the sun damage to your face? Do brown spots and rough skin have you wearing layers of makeup to hide the damage? Are you seeing the beginnings of deep wrinkles? Or are you feeling that your body contour just never makes you feel good, no matter how much you exercise?

Ask yourself these tough questions and pinpoint what’s really behind your desire for cosmetic treatments. It’s much easier to choose the perfect treatment if you’re fully aware of your goals and motivations.

Learn About Types of Laser & Radiofrequency Treatments

Once you know what you want to achieve, you’ll need to know what some of your options are. Take some time to research the many laser and radiofrequency treatments available. This will help prepare you to talk with your plastic surgeon about the procedures you’re interested in. Here are just a few great choices:

Face Tite

While many people are focused on wrinkles and sun damage, others face different problems like sagging skin and excess fat in the face. If you’re struggling with these issues, Face Tite is a great option for improving the overall appearance of the face. This treatment combines radiofrequency energy with gentle liposuction. This will help to contour and tighten the face for a youthful, refreshed appearance.

Fractora

Fractora is a laser radiofrequency technology that helps stimulate and resurface the skin. This is a minimally-invasive procedure that can be completed in just one visit! Like many other laser resurfacing treatments, Fractora uses fractional energy to address skin concerns. The benefit is that there is no prolonged downtime or extensive side effects. Fractora treatments can address many different problems, including fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation issues, poor skin tone and texture, visible blood vessels and the overall appearance of the skin.

Tite-FX

We all know that exercise and a healthy diet are a key part of any wellness plan. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to achieve your desired cosmetic results through these methods alone. Tite-FX is a great way to help tone and contour the body when exercise alone isn’t working. Using a combination of vacuum technology and radiofrequency energy, this treatment can help improve body contour and even address cellulite. Some patients prefer to combine Tite-FX with liposuction treatments for more comprehensive results.

Talk to a Plastic Surgeon

After you know your options, it’s time to choose a plastic surgeon and discuss your treatment options with an expert. Your consultation is the most important step in choosing the perfect laser treatment. You’ll get an opportunity to receive personalized recommendations based on your goals and the condition of your skin. Be sure to come to your consultations prepared to make the most of them. Ask questions, get to know your surgeon, and make sure you feel comfortable before you commit to any treatment.

If you’re looking for an experienced plastic surgeon to help you make this important decision, consider a consultation with Dr. Philip Miller. Dr. Miller is an acclaimed facial plastic surgeon in the competitive New York area. His distinguished credentials have earned him respect from both colleagues and patients. If you’d like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller in New York, call (646) 791-3025 today!

Next, read our blog, Benefits of a Facelift and Why This Procedure is Right for You.

A facelift is a type of procedure designed to make improvements to your face in order to reduce signs of aging in these areas. The following will provide a detailed look at the many benefits of a facelift and why this procedure is right for you.

When You Should Receive a Facelift

It’s important to understand that aging, stress, heredity and environmental conditions are just a few of the factors as to why you may begin to lose your youthful appearance. However, this exceedingly safe procedure will ensure that your face remains as youthful at the age of 40 as it was at 25.

If you notice signs of aging and believe that you could look better, a facelift if perfect for you. Full confidence with your appearance can do wonders to your personal and professional lives. These signs of aging include a loss of skin tone in the lower portion of the face, creases below the eyelids and along the nose, sagging around the middle portion of the face and drooping fat.

What a Facelift Procedure Entails

The primary procedure for a facelift is minimally invasive and only takes a small amount of time to complete. The procedure begins with the administration of anesthesia in order to make you comfortable during the surgery. This can include either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Once the anesthesia has been administered, the incision will be made. Where this incision takes place largely depends on the type of facelift you are looking to have done.

For a traditional facelift, the incision begins at the hairline and extends around the ear and towards the lower scalp. For a limited incision facelift, the incisions at the temple are smaller and only extend around the ear. Once the fat has been sculpted and rearranged for a better looking face, the incisions will be closed and will fade relatively quickly.

Ideal Candidates for This Procedure

Thankfully, it doesn’t require much to be an ideal candidate for this procedure, so there’s practically no reason to worry about being denied for it. The best candidates largely include people that don’t have health conditions that would cause problems with the healing process.

Non-smokers are preferable over smokers as well. It’s also important that you have realistic expectations of what this procedure will do for you and have a generally positive outlook about the results from the procedure, which will make preparations for a facelift much easier.

Benefits of a Facelift

There are a wide variety of benefits that you will receive when getting a facelift. For instance, you’ll automatically have a much more youthful and natural look to your face, which will aid in aging gracefully as the years pass by. This will also help to boost your confidence levels.

A few of the primary advantages of having this procedure done include repairing loose skin for a smoother look, providing improvements for facial contours for a better looking jawline and tightening your facial muscles for less tension in the face.

Risks and Recovery Time

Like any surgical procedure, there are a few risks involved as well. These include bleeding, risks with anesthesia, infections, fluid accumulation, skin discoloration, prolonged swelling, numbness, pain that persists and poor wound healing.

As for recovery time, you will generally be provided with instructions on how to treat your face once the surgery has been completed. Overall, recovery time is typically anywhere from two to three weeks.

Call us today to find out more about the facelift procedure and to schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller.

Next, read our blog, Proper Post-Op Nutrition.

When it comes to facelift surgery, many patients worry about the scarring that could result once their incisions have fully healed. Scarring around the hairline and ears is a legitimate concerns to those who have a tendency to heal poorly or develop excess scar tissue. Obviously, fewer incisions and a less-invasive surgical approach could limit the presence of potential scarring around the face. For this reason, many patients choose a micro-lift facelift surgeries instead of the traditional incision pattern and surgical approach. Of course, a different approach can meet different results, so your choice should be made carefully under the guidance of your facial plastic surgeon. Here are just some of things you should know before you make your decision.

What Is a Micro-Lift?

During a traditional facelift, incisions are placed along the hairline, down and around the ears, and then along the lower hairline. This allows the surgeon optimum access to the areas that will be addressed during your surgery, typically the lower face, jaw line, and chin.

During a Micro-Lift procedure, a cutting-edge approach is used with a small incision placed just in front of each ear. Through these incisions, the skin and underlying tissue can be adjusted for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is sometimes called the Ponytail lift because the effects mimic the taut, firm look created by a ponytail.

Are There Benefits to a Micro-Lift?

Patients of the micro-lift can experience a youthful boost with minimal pain and recovery time. The Micro-Lift requires just a few days of taking it easy, rather than one or more weeks of intense recovery. This makes it more favorable to patients with busy schedules or those who have a need for faster results. Shorter recovery means less time spent away from work, activities, and other responsibilities.

With only two small incisions to heal, scarring is also much less of a concern, especially if you have shorter hair or a recessed hair line. The minimally invasive approach also involves less welling and redness around the incision site. Patients experience only minimal discomfort, though tightness and temporary numbness are a fairly common side effect.

Are There Drawbacks to the Micro-Lift?

On the downside, however, Micro-lift facelift surgery will not provide results as extensive as those of the traditional facelift. This alternative approach is best used for patients who want to achieve an improvement in their look that is subtle instead of dramatic, or those who require very limited adjustments to achieve their desired results.

The micro-lift is a good alternative to the traditional approach for those patients of a younger age, usually in their late 30s or 40s. While a micro-lift provides less extensive intervention, it can certainly improve the right patient’s look when needed.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Micro-Lift Surgery?

To be considered a good candidate for any facelift surgery, you should be in good physical health, not smoke, and have a realistic expectation for your results. In addition, you should have specific aging concerns around the lower portion of your face, including double chins, jowls, deep creases, lines and wrinkles, and lax skin.

As a candidate for a micro-lift, you may be looking for less extensive changes to the face. You may also be in the earlier stages of the aging process. Other patients who consider the limited incision facelift may have concerns about post-surgical scarring, a past history of poor scarring, or other concerns. Talk with your facial plastic surgeon about making the right surgical plan to suit your own needs.

Plan Your Facelift Surgery with an Expert

Minimize scarring and optimize results when you consult with a highly qualified, board certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery, offering over 20 years of experience and knowledge to his patients.

A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with his peers at various national facial plastic surgery meetings. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

Next, read our blog, How Does Rhinoplasty Affect My Facial Features?