Kim Kardashian's Vampire Face Lift

Have you seen this photo of Kim Kardashian's Vampire Facelift? It honestly looks more like a laser skin resurfacing treatment like those performed here at our Atlanta plastic surgery office, but she claims to have had a Vampire Facelift.

I don't perform the Vampire facelift because I think the name is quite misleading, for two reasons: (1) it's not a face lift, and (2) its long term results are unproven.

Unfortunately, even my profession is not immune from the "brand name" hype that invades other fields of medicine. It's my professional opinion that Ms. Kardashian and others desiring facial rejuvenation should investigate laser skin resurfacing. She does not have drooping facial structures; she's too young. She may have skin irregularities due to sun exposure at her age, and that is best treated with either microdermabrasion, chemical peels or laser skin resurfacing.

Before you get pulled into things like a Vampire Face Lift, I urge you to visit our Atlanta plastic surgery office to get the scoop on what really works: physician-grade skin care products; hydrating with lots of water; regular sleep and exercise; laying low on alcohol and avoiding tobacco, and using the many technologies we have here in Atlanta for skin rejuvenation. 

To your health & beauty,
Dr. Carmen Kavali, Board Certified Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

What Traffic Does To Your Skin

In Atlanta, plastic surgery is very popular, especially with patients seeking to reduce wrinkles or skin spots. I frequently treat patients with Botox or dermal fillers to get rid of wrinkles. Other patients opt for laser skin resurfacing or microdermabrasion. Of course, some patients choose to undergo a face lift or forehead lift. All will give a patient a more youthful appearance.

But what if I told you that part of the reason you could be aging is due to traffic-related airborne particles? Particles such as this have already been found to be harmful to your lungs, and have also been linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes as well as cognitive failure in the elderly. Studies are also trying to find a link between Alzheimer’s and traffic-related airborne particles.

But new studies are now linking these particles to early skin aging too. After studying a group of people who lived in a heavily industrialized area, as well as a group in a rural area for twenty years, a strong association has been established between residing near areas with heavy traffic and increased wrinkling and pigment spots. The association was so strong that traffic-related airborne particles is now ranked third, underneath UV radiation and tobacco smoke, as the most potentially modifiable major factor in early skin aging.

Perhaps it’s time to cut back on the all the cars and buses after so much evidence has shown its harmful effects to not only the environment but to us also.

To your health and beauty,

 
Dr. Carmen Kavali

Does The Fat Come Back?

In Atlanta, liposuction, whether it be traditional or laser-assisted lipo, is one of the most common procedures I perform. Many of the patients that come into my Atlanta, Georgia plastic surgery practice have worked really hard to reach a healthy weight but have one or a few areas of fat they can’t seem to shake. Due to liposuction being a body contouring procedure, these patients are ideal candidates and can easily obtain the body they’ve been working towards. It also helps to be as close to your goal weight as possible because new studies show that fat has a tendency to return within one year of a liposuction procedure.

Don’t just write off liposuction just yet. In fact, fat has shown to be quite adamant in returning after dieting and exercising as well. However, whereas fat usually returns to the same spots after diet and exercise, the fat will not settle back into any areas that have previously been liposuctioned. Meaning, your sexy shape will still be retained.

But why is fat so adamant on returning no matter what we do? Scientists believe that the brain, or possibly some other part of the body, is trying to regulate the body after weight loss, which could cause the body to gain back any poundage that has been lost. If scientists are able to prove this, it means that maintaining a healthy body weight from the start is more important than ever. It definitely is worth considering before you reach for the chips over whole wheat crackers to give to your children.

The bottom line is that a healthy lifestyle should be maintained no matter what. Liposuction is a great tool to help with any problem areas, but it is not a weight loss procedure. Even afterwards, it’s important to continue a healthy diet and to exercise daily in order to combat the fat that will try and return.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali

Could I Have Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

With cosmetic enhancements becoming more widely accepted in today’s culture, it’s only natural for more people to want them. Just like the rest of America, in Atlanta, cosmetic surgery is certainly no longer just for the rich and famous.  And in a society that values beauty and youth, more and more people decide to utilize a plastic surgeon’s talents. Can cosmetic enhancement ever become too much of a good thing?

In fact, yes, it can, for those who have one procedure after another, but are never satisfied with the way they look. Those folks may have a psychological condition called “Body Dysmorphic Disorder” in which the affected person is excessively preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical features. Similar to individuals suffering from a disorder like bulimia, who never see themselves as thin enough, those with BDD never see themselves as physically “perfect” enough.

Of course, it’s common for us to be critical of ourselves, especially when it comes to appearance. Simply thinking someone’s breasts are better than yours doesn’t mean you suffer from BDD. Patients who come to our Atlanta plastic surgery office for a breast augmentation, and later on (or even at the same time) they decide to have a liposuction procedure doesn’t mean they have BDD. Maybe they just have a few things on a list that they’d like to change about themselves. So, how can you tell when you, or someone you care about, might have a problem with Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Here are some symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder:

• Preoccupation with physical appearance, ie, beyond that of most other people.
• Strong belief that they have an abnormality or defect in their appearance that makes them ugly. One wrinkle can turn them into a tailspin. 
• Frequent examination in the mirror or, conversely, avoidance of mirrors altogether. 
• Belief that others view their appearance in a negative way.
• Constantly seeking reassurance about their appearance from others.
• Frequent cosmetic procedures but little satisfaction with the results.
• Unusual body habits, such as hair plucking, picking at their skin, etc.
• Extreme self-consciousness.
• Refusal to appear in pictures.
• Always comparing their appearance with that of others. 
• Avoidance of social situations.
• The need to wear excessive makeup or clothing to camouflage perceived flaws.
• Obsessing over specific parts of their body, such as breasts, abdomen, and/or face.

OK now, don’t get worked up if a few of these apply to you. In fact, several of these are fairly natural and occur in almost everyone to a degree. The warning lights should go off, however, when these minor symptoms occur so frequently and they are combined with other unusual behaviors such as refusing to appear in pictures or frequent cosmetic surgery without satisfaction. When that happens, it could be time to talk to a professional. Through therapy, those with BDD can learn to view both their inner and outer beauty in its fullest.

Do you ever worry that you, or someone you care about, might have Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Carmen Kavali