A modern facelift (rhytidectomy) can minimize jowls, a double chin, and the marionette lines around the mouth that develop as we age.  The procedure involves making an incision behind the hairline, beginning from the temple and extending down in a natural line to the front and bottom of the ear, around the earlobe, and into the hair behind the ear.  The skin is separated from the underlying muscle fascia and pulled back.  The underlying muscle and SMAS layer is tightened.  The neck is undermined in a similar way and redraped behind the ear, repositioning the hairline properly.  Excess tissue is removed in front and behind the ear.  Finally the incisions are closed with tissue glue and sutures. The Quick Lift extensively advertised is a skin tightening operation designed in the 1970’s that has been repackaged as something new- performed under local anesthesia.  Because the goal is “quick” the fascia is not tightened, so results are the same as a “mini lift” no matter what it’s called.  

PS  In terms of both results and longevity, today’s more comprehensive approach to SMAS facelift procedures outperform those from last century. 

Associated with our changes of aging is the pressure we feel when re-union time rolls around. Beyond the 25th anniversary is the awareness that the sagging neck contour we experience has a solution- a neck lift. The details involve the thought of no longer having to have hands in front of the chin with each candid photo, and never being caught between a camera and a side view vantage. Turtle necks aren’t fun in July anymore. People are surprised how little bruising occurs with this intervention, and it’s camouflaged by the clothing you’re already wearing to cover the neck you don’t like. Once the swelling goes down it will please you to see your neck in the mirror and enjoy clothing choices that are no longer restricted. The recovery details will be discussed in your consultation. Contact my office to further discuss your candidacy for the neck you’ve always desired.

PS I think your neck lift result deserves more than an hour!

Click on this link to our website.

A, B, C’s of Skin Care

 Topical vitamins A, B and C in the right chemical formulation have a tremendous positive impact on skin texture, health, vitality, thickness, color and wrinkle control. Vanek Cosmeceuticals have been designed with my knowledge of the biochemical interactions of these agents with your skin type.  Vitamin A Refining Complex contains Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A) and is a powerful anti-oxidant that increases skin elasticity to yield younger looking skin.  Combining it with retinol improves moisturization of dry skin, reduces excess oil, while it smoothes and softens skin.  Vitamin B3 activation is a patented agent that comes from 12 years of National Institute of Health research on sun damaged skin improvements with its use.  Formulated as a topical nourisher called Nia24 Skin Strengthening Complex™, it is a workhorse for improving texture, moisturization, pigment and hygiene on skin cancer patients of all ages.  Chitosan Ascorbate, a stabilized form of vitamin C, is a potent antioxidant which brightens the skin and supports collagen synthesis. Vitamin C serum pH 5.0 is non-irritating in its natural exfoliation effect.  The addition of Squalane emollient from olives protects, moisturizes and softens.

PS  The agents for skin that make you look great are the result of years of clinical  research, but require analysis of your skin for their proper selection and use. 

Would you like a VISIA analysis of you skin? Call our office to schedule your NO CHARGE Visia consultation today! 440.205.5750

Vanek Cosmeceuticals

Over the next few weeks I will be detailing the ingredients of some skin crèmes that have been formulated and prepared for exclusive use in my practice.  With proper skin analysis technology like VISIA and careful photography, my experienced staff and I will assist you in selecting the correct, potent, tailored combination of agents that will be beneficial for your skin needs.  An interesting ingredient comes from a tribe of Africans with a low frequency of breast droopiness.  It is because they put the extract of Kigelia Africana fruit on their chests at the time of child birth and beyond.  I have incorporated this extract into a hydrating décolleté and bust contour crème to replenish and hydrate the area including the crepiness of the neck.  My patients love it!  It restores skin firmness and visibly improves tone and smoothness.  For those who have already had a breast lift or reduction it can be applied as soon as the steri-strips come off, around 5 or 6 days after surgery.

P.S.  My office VISIA imaging system for facial analysis will help you analyze and treat the skin of your neck, décolleté, face and hands for rejuvenation with state of the art methods.    

Call our office for your No Charge VISIA consultation.

 Mentor, Ohio Dr. Paul Vanek’s office introduces the VISIA Complexion Analysis System. 

The VISIA® Complexion Analysis system is the first skin care photographic imaging tool that provides clinical measurements of surface and subsurface facial skin conditions.  It is a self-contained unit that captures multi-spectral photos of the face, examining the complexion for wrinkles, spots, pores, texture (color variation in the skin tone), porphyrins (evidence of bacteria in pores), and UV spots (characteristic of  environmental and photodamage, typically from overexposure to the sun).  The assessment is objective and comprehensive.  The texture and condition of your skin will be demonstrated 3 dimensionally once the software works on the captured multi-spectral images.  It compares the measured parameters with 4 million faces in the database within 1 year of your birthday.  The photos are then reviewed and you can see and understand what is being discussed regarding skin renewal treatment options.  Based upon that analysis, a tailored, optimized plan for rejuvenation for skin health and vitality can be mapped out.  Treatment progress can be monitored for effectiveness over time.  Each patient receives a printed skin analysis report to take home.  

P.S. I’m delighted to announce that the Visia® system is now available in my office by appointment.  Call us at 440.205.5750.

 Want to get your skin looking great? 

 Article by Dr. Paul Vanek – A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Scanning technology that has allowed scientists to map the surface of Mars can also facilitate analysis of your skin!  A new device to characterize your skin with multi-spectral analysis makes quantitative measurements allowing me to assess all aspects of your complexion.  Severity of wrinkles, 3 dimensional contour mapping, sun damage, rosacea, brown spots, pore size, porphyrins, and scarring are able to be quantified with a computer analysis from the photos of your skin taken at the time of your consultation. This baseline analysis can be used as a tool to assess your skin improvements over time with the treatments we recommend.  The images are also compared to a data base of over 4 million people within one year of your birthdate, matching age and ethnicity for comparison purposes. A printed report detailing the results of the imaging session can be taken home for review of skin care and treatment recommendations based upon your unique complexion profile.  What better way to assess and follow results than with an objective technology that shows you your progress with treatment? 

PS  This technology will soon be available in my practice to provide you a vision of your healthier, younger looking, more beautiful skin!

The VISIA Skin Complexion Anaylsis System is here now in my office. Call for your No Charge VISIA consult. 440.205.5750

Non-invasive, non-surgical elements in tandem can yield a synergistic, more youthful appearance around the mouth. The makeup industry is a $4.2 billion effort dedicated to camouflaging progressively aging skin.  Actual physiologic improvement is the goal of plastic surgeons and biochemists like me.  Combining laser energy and lip filler modifies the tissues synergistically, solving the problem of lines around the mouth.  Lip filler (Juvederm) with a molecular content already found in your tissues (hyaluronic acid) gives you a more natural appearance and lasts about a year with a single treatment.   Using ProFractional Laser to instill a depot of energy deep into the dermis facilitates remodeling and plumping of the aged skin lines.  It heals in one day.  The volume enhancement injection and the laser-induced collagen formation make a result that is more natural, beautiful and long lasting.  The office procedure takes about 20 minutes with topical local.

P.S. SPF 15 to 25 and Kinerase ProT is used beginning 48 hours after the laser procedure. You can go out to dinner the next night! 

Mouth looking old? 

Emerging from the winter hibernation may make you feel like your skin could use some brightening and tightening.  Utilizing a revolutionary technology can really brighten the skin with a few days of down time.  A microlaser peel with erbium laser followed by a ProFractional laser treatment is called a “Mentor Peel”.  This takes advantage of removing surface irregularities with superficial erbium laser energy. In the same treatment session the ProFractional laser energy places a depot of energy deep into the dermis.  It does this through a pore size laser spot that treats 11% of the skin, leaving 89% of the skin undisturbed for healing in one day!  Think of it like lawn aeration.   Your friends will think you had sunburn over the next 3 days or so until you heal.  The patient is treated with a high tech, safe cooling device for the microlaser peel, and then anesthetized with topical local for a comfortable second phase profractional laser.  No injections. Just walk into the office and walk out on your way to remodeled, youthful skin. 

PS

About 5 days after your first session you can go out in the sun with SPF 25 sun block.  Make-up covers the red by the 3^rd day after the “Mentor Peel” until it fades.     

Facelift

Mentor, Ohio – Facelift (rhytidectomy) a modern facelift can minimize jowls, a double chin, and the marionette lines around the mouth that develop as we age.  The procedure involves making an incision behind the hairline, beginning from the temple and extending down in a natural line to the front and bottom of the ear, around the earlobe, and into the hair behind the ear.  The skin is separated from the underlying muscle fascia and pulled back.  The underlying muscle and SMAS layer is tightened.  The neck is undermined in a similar way and redraped behind the ear, repositioning the hairline properly.  Excess tissue is removed in front and behind the ear.  Finally the incisions are closed with tissue glue and sutures. The Quick Lift extensively advertised is a skin tightening operation designed in the 1970’s that has been repackaged as something new- performed under local anesthesia.  Because the goal is “quick” the fascia is not tightened, so results are the same as a “mini lift” no matter what it’s called. 

PS  In terms of both results and longevity, today’s more comprehensive approach to SMAS facelift procedures outperform those from last century. 

For your consultation call 440.205.5750.