Beauty within Reach

Look and feel younger, more radiant and refreshed with these modern cosmetic innovations. Inside, local experts show you how to:

• Freeze away stubborn fat

• Regain your pre-pregnancy body

• Lift and tighten your skin

• Remove unwanted hair, painlessly

• Straighten your smile and more…

Regain your pre-pregnancy body

Procedure Name: Mommy Makeover

The Patient: Women who have had one or more pregnancies, don’t smoke, are in good health and want to restore their pre-pregnancy proportions.

How It Works: A Mommy Makeover may include a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction, labiaplasty and facial hyperpigmentation treatment. This compilation of surgeries can tighten and tone the body back to pre-baby proportions (or better). A tummy tuck can repair the separation of abdominal muscles, plus remove extra skin and fat. Liposuction is commonly done in hips or thighs, and breast augmentation or breast lifts can replace lost volume and firmness due to nursing. In addition, the facial treatment can lighten melasma, the dark spots that pregnancy may cause. Patients may choose any or all components, which can be done all at once, or in segments.

Risk Factors: Bleeding and seromas may occur.

Recovery: Recovery time depends on age, health and number of procedures performed. The average patient is back to normal activities within 10 days. Scars must be kept out of sunlight for the first three months. Compression garments must be worn after liposuction.

Maintenance: Will vary depending on procedures performed.

Cost: Varies. May start at $15,000 and range up to $30,000.

The Expert: Dr. Larry Schlesinger, Mommy Makeover Institute of Hawaii, 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 590, 597-8835, mommymakeoverhawaii.com

There were 14.6 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2012, up 5 percent since 2011. –American Society of Plastic Surgeons

 

A straight, stunning smile without braces

Procedure Name: Invisalign® teeth-straightening system

The Patient: Men and women, teens and adults. Invisalign® can correct a wide range of dental problems, from mild crookedness or crowding to more serious issues such as gaps, crossbite, overbite or underbite.

How It Works: Invisalign® uses a series of removable, virtually invisible aligners worn over the teeth that are more comfortable and convenient than braces. The aligners are made with 3D computer imaging technology, making them a custom fit for the patient’s teeth. Because they’re removable, patients may eat and drink as usual, and can brush and floss normally. Also, no wires or metal means less abrasion to the lips and gums, and also less time in the dentist’s office for adjustments. Each aligner is worn for two weeks, and teeth will straighten gradually into the exact position planned by the orthodontist.

Risk Factors: If the patient has had past crown work, it may need to be redone.

Recovery: Patients are able to resume normal activity immediately. 

Maintenance: Total treatment time can range from five to 24 months, with checkups every eight to 10 weeks to ensure the treatment is progressing.

Costs: Invisalign® treatments start at $1,500 and can range up to $6,000.

The Expert: Won Chaekal, DDS, LLC, Nauru Tower, 1330 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 302, 593-0889, orthodontics-hawaii.com

Americans spent almost $11 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2012. –American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
 

Lift and tighten your face with no downtime

Procedure Names: Ultherapy and Belotero dermal filler

The Patient: Men and women in their 30s to 70s who want a non-surgical option to reverse the appearance of aging by lifting and tightening skin of the brow, cheeks, jowls and neck.

How It Works: Combining Ultherapy with Belotero filler is an effective strategy to reverse and prevent signs of aging. Using ultrasound technology, Ultherapy delivers energy into the skin and support structures of the face to stimulate new collagen production. This helps lift, tighten and improve the skin’s texture, while fillers add volume to areas of the face that sink with age. Belotero is made of hyaluronic acid, which exists naturally in the body, and integrates into the skin to fill fine wrinkles around the eyes, brows and mouth.

Risk Factors: Ultherapy poses very few risks. The most common include mild redness, swelling, and tenderness or bruising in the treatment area. Belotero can also cause redness, swelling and bruising at the injection site.

Recovery: Most patients return to their activities the same day.

Maintenance: Depending on the patient’s skin laxity, smoking history, sun damage and age, one Ultherapy treatment is effective. Others might require several treatments. Touch-up treatments may be considered in one to two years.

Cost: For Ultherapy, small areas may begin at $400, but average fees usually range from $4,500 to $5,500. Belotero averages $600.

The Experts: Dr. Todd Mirzai and Dr. Bao Phan, board certified plastic surgeons, Hawaii Plastic Surgery Associates. Honolulu: 952-9779, Maui: 249-8509, Kauai: 245-5054, Kona: 249-8509, hawaiiplasticsurgeryassociates.com
 

The top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in 2012 were: Botulinum Toxin Type A, hyaluronic acid, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and chemical peel. –American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
 

Achieve balanced, symmetrical body proportions

Procedure Name: Breast Lipoaugmentation

The Patient: Adult women who are interested in breast enhancement, but prefer a more natural-looking alternative to synthetic implants.

How It Works: With liposuction, unwanted fat is removed from areas such as the tummy, thighs or “muffin tops.” Then, it is transferred into tissues surrounding the breast glands to lift, enlarge volume and improve the shape of the breasts. The results have more balanced proportions, with a more natural look and feel than saline or silicone implants.

Risk Factors: Bleeding, slight scarring, blood clots and contour irregularities may occur.

Recovery: This procedure creates less discomfort and has a faster recovery time than traditional implants. Some patients return to normal activities within a few days.

Maintenance: This procedure typically results in survival of 70 percent or more of the transferred fat. Rarely, additional procedures may be necessary. Compression garments must be worn for four to six weeks in areas where fat was removed.

Cost: Costs vary, but may range from $12,000 to $20,000.

The Experts: Dr. Todd Mirzai and Dr. Bao Phan, board certified plastic surgeons, Hawaii Plastic Surgery Associates. Honolulu: 952-9779, Maui: 249-8509, Kauai: 245-5054, Kona: 249-8509, hawaiiplasticsurgeryassociates.com

Freeze the hands of time with the “facelift of the future”  

Procedure Name:  Venus Freeze Skin Tightening and Cellulite Reduction

The Patient: Adult men and women who want to reduce cellulite or tighten loose skin anywhere on the face, neck and body, without surgery or downtime. 

How It Works: Using thermal magnetic rejuvenation, Venus Freeze penetrates deeply into the skin to increase collagen synthesis, making skin smoother and firmer. This warm, relaxing treatment works on all skin types and colors, and can create dramatic improvements without invasive surgery.

Risk Factors: There are no major risks.

Recovery: Patients can resume normal activities immediately.

Maintenance: Quarterly treatments are recommended to maintain results.

Cost: Body treatments start at $300; facial treatments start at $400. The Experts: Honolulu MedSpa, 1650 Liliha St., Suite 102, 528-0888, honmedspa.com

In 2012, the top five surgical procedures for women were: breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty. The top five surgical procedures for men were: liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast reduction, and otoplasty (ear surgery). –American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
 

Freeze away unwanted, stubborn fat

Procedure Name: CoolSculpting®

The Patient: Men and women within 10 to 20 pounds of their goal weight who are looking for a safe, non-surgical way to remove stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.

How It Works: CoolSculpting® uses a precisely controlled cooling method called Cyrolipolysis to safely target and permanently remove fat cells without damaging neighboring tissue. This FDA-cleared treatment, seen on The Dr. Oz show, actually freezes fat cells, which are then naturally eliminated from the body. Generally, the procedure results in up to a 25 percent permanent fat reduction in the treated area.

Risk Factors: This procedure poses no major risks.

Recovery: Typically, patients return to normal activities immediately. Minor bruising or numbness may temporarily occur in the treated area and generally subsides within a few days to two weeks.

Maintenance: Results can be seen as soon as three weeks, with full results occurring over the next four months. If medically appropriate, patients may repeat treatments as desired to remove even more fat.

Cost: Treatments start at $800 per area. Some patients need multiple areas treated or repeat treatments for optimal results.

The Experts: Honolulu MedSpa, 1650 Liliha St., Suite 102, 528-0888, honmedspa.com
 

Permanently Remove Unwanted Hair, Painlessly

Procedure Name: Soprano Virtually Painless Hair Removal

The Patient: Anyone with unwanted dark hair on the face, neck or body.

How It Works: This revolutionary new approach to hair removal uses the FDA-approved Soprano XL system by Alma Lasers. Lasers pass through the skin to thermally destroy the cells responsible for regrowth, effectively removing hair while leaving surrounding skin undamaged.

Risk Factors: Risks are very rare and generally temporary, but could include minor burns, blistering, scabs or discoloration of the skin.

Recovery: Patients may resume normal activities immediately, but should avoid direct, unprotected sun exposure on treated area for two weeks.

Maintenance:  For best results, a series of six to eight treatments are recommended, at intervals of four to six weeks.

Cost: Costs start at $99 for underarms, and vary depending on areas treated.

The Experts: Honolulu MedSpa, 1650 Liliha St., Suite 102, 528-0888, honmedspa.com

Restore and rejuvenate your eyes

Procedure Names: BOTOX® Cosmetic and Facial Fillers

The Patient: Mostly women and men in their 30s and older who want to reduce furrows between the brows, wrinkles around the eyes, and puffiness or bags. Some patients in their 20s use the treatments as wrinkle prevention.

How They Work: BOTOX® Cosmetic reduces the appearance of moderate frown lines (wrinkles between eyebrows) and crow’s feet. An injection of botulinum toxin paralyzes the muscles, reducing the activity that causes wrinkles. One 10-minute treatment can produce instant results that last up to four months. Facial fillers such as RESTYLANE® and JUVEDERM® are injectables that can reduce the appearance of fatigue by repairing sagging tear troughs, which cause under-eye bags. They can also be used to enhance cheekbones, create fuller lips, and remove lines around the mouth. This treatment takes only about 15 minutes.

Risk Factors: The most frequently reported problems are headaches, pain at the injection site, bleeding and bruising.

Recovery: Typically patients can return to work immediately.

Maintenance: BOTOX® typically lasts three to four months; facial fillers typically last six months to a year.

Cost: BOTOX® starts at $280 and facial fillers start at $600.

The Expert: Rupa Krishnamurthy Wong, M.D., Honolulu Eye Clinic, 1329 Lusitana St., Suite 806, 526-0030, drrupawong.com
 

Enjoy Eating, Speaking and Smiling Again

Procedure Name: Dental Implants

The Patient: People interested in replacing missing teeth or looking for a fixed implant-supported denture.

How It Works: Today’s revolutionary implant procedure provides a more natural looking, long-term tooth replacement for any number of teeth, in just a few visits. In some cases, dentures can be replaced entirely. High-quality implants, 3D imaging and placement by an oral surgeon minimize any complications. Some patients may qualify for a digital laser scan, which replaces traditional impressions. Dental implants can restore confidence and a more youthful appearance, and over a lifetime may cost less than crowns or bridges.

Risk Factors: No major risk factors for patients healthy enough for normal dental visits.

Recovery: Most return to normal activity the day following surgery, with minimal or no discomfort.

Maintenance: Dental implants are maintained with brushing, flossing and routine dental visits.

Cost: Affordable or interest-free solutions can be found for most patients after an initial consultation.

The Expert: Keiko Watanabe, DDS, PhD, 1440 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1239, 955-1440, alamoanadentistry.com