QuickLift facelifts presents Paula's "Aha" moment

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Fall 2013 | Send to a Friend

A Facial Rejuvenation Update from Robert J. Brueck, MD, FACS (239) 939-5233

For every set of before and after photos, there’s “a story.” The story often boils down to a single moment that prompted our patient to call for a QuickLift® consultation. For Paula, this was that moment:

“When I saw this picture, I was mortified. My ‘gobbler’ sagged and hung lower than ever. That was the moment I decided it had to go! From the very first phone call, I KNEW I made the right decision. And now, I LOVE what I see in the mirror. No more turtle necks for me. Most people are surprised at how natural I look. I don’t have that Hollywood fake look. The QuickLift has given me back my self-confidence — and that’s priceless!” Read Paula’s story.

Learn more about the QuickLift® today! If you’d like, we’ll put you in touch with Paula, or another one of our patients who will be happy to share their stories with you.

Robert J. Brueck, MD, FACS 3700 Central Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901 14 Del Prado N., Cape Coral, FL 33909 25097 West Olympia, Suite 301 Punta Gorda, FL 33950 (239) 939-5233 www.beauty-by-brueck.com

Please click here if you do not wish to receive future emails. *Actual patient photos courtesy of Dominic A. Brandy, MD. Results may vary. Recovery time may vary as some patients may elect to have additional facial rejuvenation treatments performed at the same time as the QuickLift®. May be performed with local anesthesia or twilight sedation.

You lead with your chin. Tighten it up.

So many options for firming up a sagging jawline

Lifts, liposuction, injections and lasers

In “I Feel Bad About My Neck,” Nora Ephron wrote, “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you would not if it had a neck.” 

She had a point. But an equal embarrassment sits right above the neck. It's the sagging jaw line.   

When you reach your early 40s, you may notice the "drop zone", the skin between your neck and jaw. Once a taut right angle, it's now simply dropping. When a friend pulls back the skin in front of her ears and asks, “Tell me the truth, don’t I look better like this?” We answer dishonestly: “Don’t be silly. You look great the way you are.”

Aging jaw and neck are challenging. The neck has three layers: skin, fat, and muscle. Sagging muscles and bulging fat are located under the thin skin. To make it worse, a thin rope-like material called platysma tends to split into a V-like formation of two cords that stick out especially when they contract. To witness this, if you’re over 40, look in a mirror, say “eee,” and watch what happens. "Horrors!" you say to yourself. A colleague in Manhattan observes, “Trying to fix all of that with potions and lotions is like waging a two-front war on a sheet of thin ice.” He recommends a neck lift for women in their early to mid-40s who are not ready for a facelift.

Neck Lift/Facelift

The neck lift wraps sagging muscles crosswise to the jaw to restore that all-important right angle. Compared with a facelift, sutures are smaller, there is less pulling and recovery time is much shorter. However, a neck lift has traditionally been part and parcel of a facelift and many plastic surgeons believe it should remain so. The reasoning is that, anatomically, the muscles of the neck are connected to muscles of the face, so if you try to tighten just the neck muscles, you will do you face a disservice. Using this line of reasoning, even if your big complaint is your neck, you will get better results with a facelift. If you’re confused about which procedure is right for you, have me give you feedback while perusing your very own unique face and neck.

Liposuction and the double chin

The face and neck are usually treated at the same time, often in conjunction with liposuction to sculpt the area beneath the chin and jaw line. Weight gain can lead to looser skin, weaker muscles and free falling fat, all of which may contribute to your drop zone. Younger patients who have fatty necks but no significant facial aging may be treated with liposuction alone. Some plastic surgeons also might use laser or light technology to tighten necks.

Preventive Botox

Botox in areas where wrinkling and creases can occur may prevent deeper lines from forming and will help maintain a youthful appearance. Defer those angry or tired lines so people will not notice that you’ve had anything done.  Botox can also soften those V-shaped platysma cords.

Your own belly fat

Another alternative is injecting fat from the belly into the jawline area to provide extra volume. This will include the bonus of your own stem cells. Extra stem cells are separated from the fat via centrifuge and then added, making the skin glow more and enhancing collagen.

  

Even though you might favor one of these options, it’s a good idea to have an open mind when you come in to see me for free consultation. It's best to let me suggest the very best procedure in view of your very own unique facial characteristics. 

How do you like your fat?

I guess when we go to a steak house, we’re always asked, “How do you want that done?”  

Now, with fat, I can go "dry" or "wet".  More and more of my Fort Myers plastic surgery patients receive fat when I’m doing facial cosmetic surgery.  It is a great tool to make a face more youthful because, as we age (I have been in practice 33 years and have yet to come across ANYONE who is NOT aging.) we not only get saggy skin, we lose VOLUME, i.e. fat in our face.  

We harvest fat from the abdomen for the majority.  When we harvest fat we usually infuse tumescent fluid into the donor area and then harvest.  In a recent study, NO difference was found in the arability of the fat if it was infused wet or dry.

Periodically, Dr. Robert J. Brueck, Fort Myers plastic surgeon, blogs messages here. This time, it's a letter from a patient that is particularly moving.

Dear Dr. Brueck,

At 63 years of age, I had one of the worst "turkey necks" I have ever seen on anyone and you performed the miracle of taking 8-10 years off my sagging, aging, sun damaged lower face and neck and its only been a week since the surgery! I have spent the last year researching and looking for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with considerable experience and after I met with you in your office I knew you were *the one*, although I didn't let on at the time. You and your staff made me feel completely at ease and after the surgery, I never even got sick from the anaesthetic, for which I would like to thank Judy.

People ask me if I used "Lifestyle Lift" I guess because they do so much advertising, but after doing some investigating I discovered they only have about a 35% success rate.....definitely not good enough for the only face I'll ever have! Thanks again Dr. Brueck. - MKG

Note: Patient comments about other procedures do not represent Dr. Brueck's opinion.

Dr. Brueck, Ft Myers plastic surgeon describes his Lunchtime Lift (c)

Dr. Robert J. Brueck, Board Certified aesthetic surgeon practicing in Fort Myers and Cape Coral Florida, regularly blogs here on subjects of health, medicine and plastic surgery. His work also is displayed at Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Because not everyone has the need, time or money for a full face lift, I created a shorter procedure, taking about three hours to complete, or about as long as a leisurely luncheon.

I call this my Lunchtime Lift (c).

During a recent appearance on the American Health Journal TV show, I was asked to describe what is involved with a Lunchtime Lift.

The following is a video recording of that appearance. While reasonably complete, it is constrained by the amount broadcast time available. If you would like to know more, you can visit my web site or call me at 239-939-5233. I or my staff will be happy to answer additional questions.



The Lunchtime Lift (c) has become so popular that another plastic surgeon in the area has been referring to it in his advertising. You learn about the real thing from Dr. Brueck, however.

PS: It occurs to me that the start of a new year is a suitable time to look at making a new you. Whether it is facial rejuvenation or body contouring with various lifts, implants, liposuction or tummy tucks, putting yourself in the hands of a Board Certified plastic surgeon can take years off your appearance and add substantially to your self-confidence.

May your 2011 be filled with joy and prosperity.

Dr. Brueck appears on TV to discuss lip implants

Another Sunday morning and I had an opportunity to appear on Channel 5's American Health Journal. This time the subject was lip implants.

Lip implants can be a significant part of facial rejuvenation, providing a fuller, more youthful look to the mouth area. Here's what I had to say.



For more on all subjects related to cosmetic surgery, you are invited to visit my web site at Beauty-by-Brueck.com

PS: Follow me on Facebook

Dr. Brueck MD FACS reports on skin care news

Dr. Robert J. Brueck regularly blogs about skin care and cosmetic surgery's contribution to healthy skin and youthful looks. Dr. Brueck, who practices in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida, also maintains a web site featuring insights and information about plastic cosmetic surgery.

SKINCARE/WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON

Every time I pick up a journal it seems that there is a new skincare product or regimen. “What’s the latest new craze?”

Vitamin B3 is the latest. Emerging literature seems to indicate application of topical B3 can reverse sun damage. It may not be as effective as Retin-A but it also is less irritating and easier for some patients to tolerated especially people with fair skin. It can also be used in treating acne, rosacea, actinic or sun damage, and even alopecia.

We now have the NIA24 skincare regimen which is based on this research. The results so far have been good.

So if many of you have been trying other skincare regimens and have had problems you may want to consider getting on the NIA24 regimen.

Thanks for stopping by.

Leslie tells us about her plastic surgery experience with Dr. Brueck

In this video testimonial, Leslie tells us about her motivations, results and satisfaction with Dr. Brueck, his staff and the procedure.

I won't tell you here how old Leslie is. Watch the video and be surprised when she confesses, willingly her age.

In fact, I find that most patients who have had plastic surgery, especially face rejuvenation, are so happy with how they look that they proudly declare it. It's what facial rejuvenation and other cosmetic surgery procedures do for your confidence.

Anyway, take a look at how excited and happy Leslie is.

If you would like to comment, you may do so here in the comments section of the blog. Or visit my website at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com and use the confidential contact form to ask any questions you may have.

Say Goodbye to Thread Lift Plastic Surgery

A short time ago there was a new cosmetic surgery procedure on the block. It was called a “thread lift”.

It received national media attention and was the cat’s meow for a long while.

I did the training and did several patients but quickly abandoned the procedure because the results were fleeting. It was expensive, not very difficult to do, but the expected results were lacking so I stopped offering it to my patients. Since then, I have seen several patients who have had thread lifts by other physicians who came in with exposed knots, dimpling of the skin, and the like.

It did receive FDA approval but that since has been rescinded.

There was a recent study done to compare results with three categories of patients.

The first category was patients who had thread lift only. The second category was patients who had thread lifts plus other procedures such as a blepharoplasty, chin implant and the like. The third category was conventional cosmetic surgery patients. They had a conventional facelift, blepharoplasty and the like.

The satisfaction with the thread lift patients was fleeting and the patients felt very dissatisfied with the longevity of their procedures.

The patients in group three had the greatest satisfaction level of all the groups. It was something that I saw a long time ago and lead me to abandon the procedure.

I guess it points to experience as a great teacher. My 30 years of experience has taught me a lot and the font of skill and knowledge continues to this day.

For more information about me, my experience and my practice, visit my web site at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Cosmetic Surgery Grows in Popularity

So, what’s hot in cosmetic surgery now?

A pleasant surprise is the resurgence in the number of people wanting face lifts. The number of face lifts done in 2007 was 14% more than the number performed in 2006. This may reflect the fact that fillers and botulinum (or botox) can only do so much to rejuvenate one’s face. If there is redundant skin then only a face lift will provide a solution.

Breast augmentation numbers showed and increase of 6% more than the number done in 2006.

Breast reductions increased 2%, while gynecomastion (male breast surgery) operations increased 7%.

Overall there were 12 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2007 a 7% increase over 2006.

The following were the top five surgical procedures:

1. Breast augmentation (348,000 - up 6%)

2. Liposuction (302,000 - unchanged)

3. Rhinoplasty (285,000 - down 7%)

4. Blephoroplasty eyelids (241,000 - up 3%)

5. Abdominoplasty (148,000 - up 1%)

Non-invasive, non-surgical procedures continue their high demand. There were nearly 10 million minimally invasive procedures performed.

1. Botox (4.6 million - up 13%)

2. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (1.1 million - up 35%)

3. Chemical Peels (1 million - down 4%)

4. Laser Hair Removal (906,000 - up 2%)

5. Microdermabrasion (897,000 - up 10%)

There you have it! The battle to turn back the hands of time continues.

If you're thinking of fighting your own "battle", contact me about procedures and financing we have available to help you have a good (looking) summer.

Third Party Validation

A patient recently gave me an article from a newsletter called, “Bottom Line.” The article started off with the line “If you are considering plastic surgery ask the surgeon… Are you board certified in plastic surgery? He/she should be.”

Don't be confused.

There is so much confusion and misunderstanding concerning who is best qualified to perform plastic surgery and, more specifically, cosmetic surgery.

Today, cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, are being performed by primary care doctors, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, gynecologists, general surgeons – the list goes on.

All these people probably are very qualified in their specialties. They may even have special certification in their specialties. But is that specialty cosmetic surgery?

What specialty are they board certified in?

All things being equal , a board certified plastic surgeon is still your best and most prudent choice. The training and examination process to become a board certified plastic surgeon is long and demanding.

I discussed this in more detail in an earlier blog posting – including three to five years of general surgery followed by a plastic surgery residency of two to three years of advanced training. In my case, I added a fellowship in cosmetic surgery. Surgeons with the training I have received and my experience are in the best post positions to consult with you about both surgical and non-surgical procedures.

The "Lunchtime Lift"

Recently, I attended a special seminar about a quick face lift procedure. (See my earlier blog message.) I call it the “lunchtime lift” because, at about an hour-and-a-half, it is so fast to complete. In most cases, it literally can be completed over lunch time.

On the way to observe a live demonstration of the procedure, I sat next to a family doctor from Kentucky. He was undecided about the procedure because, he said, he was concerned about the “facial nerve” that enervates the facial muscles. This is a true story. I don’t know where he finally came out about whether or not to do the procedure for his patients.

How much money is "wasted"?

But I think this points up the potential for decisions that are not in the patients best interests. I have seen patients spend thousands of dollars of brand-name fillers and say the look No better. These are not bad products for certain patient needs but , in reality, many of these people need to have a real face lift and/or full face peel or laser resurfacing to meet their objectives. All the money they spent did not give them the results they wanted.

Don’t be reluctant to ask a doctor if he or she is board certified and, even more important, in what specialty he or she is board certified.

On this first day of 2008, I and my staff wish you a healthy and blessed New Year. If you have any questions, just email me at RJBrueck@abodyandface.com

"QuickLift" is now in Fort Myers

Well you may have heard about it - waited for it - and now it’s here.

I am talking about the new “Quicklift”

I recently attended a meeting in Pittsburgh concerning the “Quicklift”.

We are inundated with reports about new creams, fillers, laser, procedures. So many are nothing more than market hype and really are no improvement over what we do.

So I decided to invest a small fortune to travel North to Pittsburgh to do my own investigation of the "Quicklift".

I was convinced!!

It really does allow for a shorter OR time and quickens recovery. In fact I returned on Sunday and did one the next day. The patient came back the next day, Tuesday, and I was pleasantly impressed that she looked so good.

With a small amount of makeup she really could have gone out to dinner that night.

I will soon be hitting the airways to promote the “Quicklift.”

Call now at 239-939-5233 to set up an appointment.

If you mention you read about "Quicklift" in this E-newsletter - blogsite, I will give you a 25% discount off the cost of the procedure.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

More will follow.