Allure Medical Blog

New article by Dr. Georgeson, Varicose Vein Expert

2013-05-01T17:16:19Z

Dr. Andrew Georgeson recently wrote an article for Surge Journal, a publication of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He describes the latest techcniques for varicose vein treatment, including laser therapy and foam sclerotherapy. He explains that injections done with ultrasound guidance can improve the effectiveness and safety of the sclerotherapy procedures.

Dr. Georgeson offers vein treatments at Allure Medical Spa in Livonia and Shelby Township Michigan.

You can read more about vein injections here.

Here's a photo of Dr. Georgeson's recent article:

3d printed eyelid instrument designed by Dr. Kotlus

2013-04-11T17:03:43Z

Dr. Kotlus saw a need for a tool that helps cosmetic surgeons evaluate patients for upper eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) and he created it using a 3d printer. It is called the eyelid wand and it is available on a website called shapeways.com. Other surgeons have already purchased their own 3d printed copy of the instrument to use with their own patients.

Watch this video to learn how the eyelid wand is used:

What does an upper eyelid lift look like after one week?

2013-03-19T13:48:32Z

In this video, Karen describes her experience after undergoing an upper blepharoplasty one week earlier. The eyelid lift procedure removes sagging skin to rejuvenate the upper eyelids and produce a less tired appearance. As you can see, she is thrilled with her experience with Dr. Kotlus!

Are stem cells the key to facial beauty?

2013-02-12T17:56:26Z

It is well known that subcutaneous fat, the fat under the skin, has abundant stem cells, the cells in the body that have the potential to grow into other types of cells. Doctors are able to use these cells in other parts of the body with the hope that they will repair tissues that are damaged from injury or aging.

In the face, fat transfer procedures help to accomplish revolumization (adding volume that was lost with age) and have the added benefit of delivering stem cells under the skin at the same time.

In a recent news story reported on Yahoo!, Dr. Kotlus describes a fat transfer procedure that helped a woman who had Perry Romberg Syndrome, characterized by half of the face sinking in. He used fat taken from around her belly button using a mini liposuction procedure and threaded the fat into the hollow and sunken areas of her face, helping to restore her symmetry. Read more about this fascinating procedure on Yahoo! here.

Dr. Kotlus routinely performs cosmetic facial fat transfer as a standalone procedure or in combination with eyelid lifts and face lifts in Allure Medical Spa's accredited surgical facility in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Male blepharoplasty - men have eye bags too!

2013-01-30T14:56:08Z

According to recent data, male cosmetic surgery is on the rise. Economic times may have influenced this statistic, as a competitive job market favors energy, youthfulness, and yes, looks. The most popular cosmetic procedures for men include botox and fillers for wrinkles, chin implants to rectify a weak profile, hair transplants for a fading hairline, and liposuction for excess fat pouches. Also at the top of the list is blepharoplasty to reduce sagging eyelid skin and eyelid bags.

Male blepharoplasty should be done in a more conservative manner than female blepharoplasty in most cases, to preserve masculinity. The male eyelid anatomy can differ from that of a female, with the eyelid crease in a different position and the brow with more fullness.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift can be done in conjunction with fat injections, laser skin tightening, and botox to acheive an enhanced result. In Michigan, Dr. Brett Kotlus offers customized procedures for his extensive list of male patients. Below is a video of Dr. Kotlus' patient who underwent upper and lower blepharoplasty 1 month earlier. His masculinity was preserved and he certainly did not end up with the dreaded "Kenny Rogers" look!

What is a non-surgical eye bag treatment?

2013-01-09T16:29:55Z

Lower eyelid bags can make you look older and more tired than you actually are. These bags and shadows are usually caused by lower eyelid fat pouches that are bulging in combination with hollowing of the upper cheek in an area called the "tear trough".

There is a surgical option to correct these bags that removes and/or shifts the fat pouch. The surgery may also involve fat injections and laser resurfacing to smooth the surrounding areas. Surgery gives the most long-lasting benefit, but it also involves some downtime, usually a week (or a few) of swelling, bruising, and redness.

The non-surgical correction for eye bags involves filler injections to plump the hollow, sunken areas that create shadows under the eyes. The fillers can last a year or more and have little downtime. Most people can return to work after the treatment that takes about 15 minutes.

The patient above (who generously allowed us to use his photos) had Juvederm Ultra placed by Dr. Brett Kotlus in the tear trough and upper cheek. He was totally thrilled with the result. Dr. Kotlus is one of the most experienced under-eye filler injectors in the state of Michigan and uses special techniques including blunt microcannula delivery systems to prevent bruising and reconstituted hyaluronic acid to ensure a smoother, more natural contour. He performs these treatments in the Macomb county office at Allure Medical Spa.

Botox and filler at any age

2012-12-03T16:26:58Z

This patient (who graciously allowed us to post her before and after photos) may be advanced in age but she is young at heart, and she wanted to express that to everyone around her. She had 2 simple non-surgical treatments to help her acheive that goal: Botox and filler. These are injectable treatments that are performed in the office at Allure Medical Spa, with minimal to no downtime and dramatic results.

Botox is used to relax the muscles that cause frown lines. When used between the brows and around the crow's line wrinkles, the eyebrows are lifted and the wrinkles are softened at the same time. This effect will last for 3-6 months after the treatment.

Dermal filler (Juvederm Ultra Plus in this case) is a soft, biocompatible gel was injected underneath the eyebrows, in the grooves under the eyes, and in the sunken cheeks to lift and rejuvenate these areas. Juvederm Ultra can last many months in these areas.

If you are looking to express your inner age with cosmetic treatments such as Botox or Juvederm, visit our main website or schedule a free consultation appointment at one of our Michigan locations, Shelby Township or Livonia.

Simple steps to treat wrinkles around the mouth and lips

2012-10-24T13:01:09Z

Everyone hates those wrinkles that radiate around the lips. And they only seem to get worse with age. What can be done? These simple steps will help to prevent these lines and can reduce their visibility.

1. Stay out of the sun. It's well-know that sun damage causes wrinkles. Wear at least a 30 SPF sunblock and a hat when you're spending any time outside.

2. Don't smoke. There are many good reasons to avoid smoke or to stop smoking. Lip wrinkle prevention is another compelling argument to not smoke.

3. Use a medical-grade skin care regimen. Ask your dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon about topical skin care products that can help with your particular skin type. Tretinoin and L-ascorbic acid can both help with wrinkles by boosting collagen conent in your skin.

4. Laser wrinkle treatments and chemical peels. These will create controlled injuries in the skin that stimulate new skin growth that tends to look smoother and more youthful. Lasers like Fraxel, ActiveFX, and DeepFX have been well established as excellent wrinkle treatments. Traditional dermabrasion (not microdermabrasion) can also work well for lines around the lips, but it has a higher risk of hypopigmentation, when the skin loses it's color and looks porcelain white.

5. Botox. A small amount of this popular muscle-relaxing protein can be injected into the muscles around the lips. Just enough Botox or Dysport will reduce the lines that are caused by pursing your lips without changing the function of the lip muscles.

6. Dermal fillers. The most popular injectable wrinkle fillers are made from hyaluronic acid gel, a substance naturally found in your body. This gel can be used to fill under the wrinkles to lift them up and make them less noticable. Juvederm, Restylane, and Perlane are among the most used HA fillers in the U.S.

7. Combination treatments. Any or all of the above will help to reduce those pesky lip lines. You can talk to one of the doctors at Allure Medical Spa in Michigan for a free consultation if you want to see what can be done for the lines around your lips.

What to expect with acne scar treatments

2012-09-26T14:21:10Z

Unwanted scars can be a devastating result of cystic acne, leaving one with a dimpled, irregular skin surface. Avoiding these scars before they occur is the most desirable course of action, but sometimes it is too late. Treatments can alleviate the visibility of these irregularities. The specific treatment options vary and should target the type of scar present. Sometimes a combination of scar types are seen on an individual.

A key point is to realize that acne scar treatments do not often eliminate acne scars, they can reduce their visibility. Reduced shadowing and scar depth is the goal of treatment, but signs of the scars are often still seen. In certain cases, the skin can look exceptionally smooth after treatment, but this is not true for all patients.

Above is a diagram of acne scar types. The deepest, ice-pick scars are the most difficult to treat. Chemical peels (using the CROSS method with TCA) and laser resurfacing may be of the most benefit in ice-pick scars. Other techniques for deep scars include skin punches and floating punch grafts.

Box-car and rolling scar types often respond better than ice-pick scars. These are best treated with laser resurfacing and dermal fillers. The Fraxel laser has an excellent track record when it comes to acne scarring. Fraxel Restore uses fractional photothermolysis with an erbium laser to build collagen in the dermis. Fractional CO2 lasers such as ActiveFX and DeepFX and Fraxel Repair are also excellent for these types of acne scars. Fillers used to improve acne scars include hyaluronic acid (HA) products (Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane). In Michigan, HA fillers are the most popular form of wrinkle and injectable acne scar treatments, especially when performed in conjunction with laser resurfacing.

Cosmetic upper eyelid lift scars - hidden incisions

2012-09-13T16:18:24Z

An upper blepharoplasty or eyelid lift is a wonderful procedure that shapes the upper eyelid. The result will frequently give you a more youthful, less tired appearance, brightening up the entire face. The cosmetic upper eyelid lift does involve an incision, created with a laser, radiofrequency device, or scalpel. But the scars almost completely disappear with time. How does that occur?

The upper eyelid has a natural crease, usually 6-11 millimeters above the eyelashes, following a smooth arc. The upper eyelid lift scar can be placed so that it coincides with your pre-existing crease. In the photo below, the dotted red line shows the position of the eyelid crease, and the right side demonstrates an eyelid that already had a blepharoplasty, with a barely detectable scar.

If you are considering aesthetic blepharoplasty, ask your surgeon if he or she plans to place the scar within the eyelid crease. There are techniques that facilitate the scar/crease alignment.

Dr. Brett Kotlus is a cosmetic eyelid specialist that offers free consultations in the Detroit Metro area in Michigan. To learn more about cosmetic eyelid procedures, visit his website, EyeliftCenter.com.