Posted October 12, 2011 in Beauty, Blog, Face Lift, Ulthera, Uncategorized, Zeltiq
Well, how’s that for a title to a blog entry? While visiting my 95 year old father recently at his “old age home”, I had the privilege of having a conversation with two of his fellow residents, Marilyn and Ben. When they found out that I was a physician, Ben asked me the significance of the “White Coat Ceremony” for medical students. His
grandchild back East was participating in the ceremony. Ben wanted to know whether, “…it was a big deal or not, since most relatives attended, but one college-aged cousin chose to attend their school’s football game instead.” Well, the White Coat Ceremony is significant for medical students as they receive their first physician white coats before seeing actual patients clinically. Marilyn then asked what kind of medicine I practiced. When I responded, “I am a facial plastic surgeon“, she then told me, “You can tell a woman’s age by her neck.” She added while extending her own neck and stroking it with her hand, “..but long-necked woman is more difficult to guess their age, like me, that’s why you didn’t know that I am 100!”
Though not a cosmetic surgeon, Marilyn is certainly correct; one of the most telling signs of aging in a woman is her neck. In the past the only treatment to correct this was neck lift surgery. For many women (and men) fortunately there is an easier non-invasive procedure to both tighten and lift the skin and muscle tissue of the neck, face, and eye brows. The procedure uses externally applied targeted and focused ultrasound energy and is called Ultherapy by Ulthera. We have been very pleased with Ulthera results in our patients, and their more youthful appearance.
That evening we saw the charming French sub-titled film, “My Afternoons with Maugueritte”. Maugueritte (played by Gisele Casadesus) is a beautiful old woman with a true love and zest for life. Margueritte shares her heart felt love with a blue collar worker (Gerard Depardieu) she meets in the pigeon park by reading novels to him. I recalled the conversation I had earlier in the day with Marilyn, and of course evaluated her neck. Which reminded me that not everyone is a candidate for non-surgical treatment, and that when there is excessive skin redundancy and laxity, then a properly performed neck lift is best. Dr. Sarmela Sunder has been wowing our patients in Encino and Beverly Hills with her masterful face and neck lifting . The results are natural with minimal scars.
Lastly, our friend Susan Schwartz has informed us that she will soon be opening Blazing Saddles, a stationary cycling spinning studio in Sherman Oaks. In Susan’s spinning class the other day my wife was asked, “You look like you’ve slimmed down, what are you doing?” She shared that she has had CoolSculpting by Zeltiq on her love handles and tummy. It is a great non-invasive treatment that targets unwanted fat bulges that have proven to be resistant to diet and exercise.
Which brings us to “Runner’s Face“. Runner’s face refers to women (and men as well) who work out a lot, their bodies are toned, muscular, and slim, but unfortunately all of the exercise and weight loss causes loss of volume in their face unmasking mid-cheek and temporal hollowness, early jowling, and loose skin of the face and neck. I guess the same can be said for “Spinner’s Face.” Fortunately, you can have your fitness exercise and keep volume in your face too with the combination of fillers such as Sculptra along with ultrasound lifting and tightening if needed. As one of our patients commented the other day about her visit to our office, ” This is like FAO Schwartz for moms!”
That is all for now. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions that you may have. Be well.
To view a preview of “My Afternoons with Margueritte” go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Qm_nDvpZ0
Dr Michael Persky and Dr. Sarmela Sunder are located in Encino, California and Beverly Hills, California (The Lasky Clinic) but service all of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Including, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills and more
