Learn More About
Facial Rejuvenation!

Read "Save Your Face"

Archive for May, 2006

[Click on question to read complete answer.]

Dr. Seckel, I am 40 years old I recently visited 3 plastic surgeons for consultations on blepharoplasty. I have bags and dark circles under my eyes and look tired all of the time. Two of the three surgeons wanted to do a traditional blepharoplasty with the incision on the outside of the eye where the fat pads are removed and they both said they would have to snip a minimal amount of skin. The third surgeon had a different approach. He wanted to do the blepharoplasty without removing the fat pads. I am sort of confused by all of the information he gave me but it sounds like he would do all of the tucking of the muscle from the inside. He also suggested an arcus marginalis release procedure to help with the dark circle in my naso-jugal fold. He wanted to use fat from underneath my chin for the arcus marginalis release procedure but said I didn’t have any fat in my neck/chin area. He also suggested a cheek suspension. I am just starting to notice a minimal droop in my cheek area. It is an endoscopic procedure is what I believe he said. I am thoroughly confused. I read your article regarding the feather lift, thread lift and Russian lift. Is the procedure he suggested the same thing? I don’t have a lot of wrinkling in my skin, mostly fine lines. I want to the minimum amount of surgery for the maximum effect. I also don’t want to change the way my face looks, I just want to get back a little bit of what I started with. Younger and refreshed. Diana, San Jose, CA

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

I do not recommend thread lift etc-they are not accepted techniques with proven longevity yet

Posted in Bags and Dark Circles Under The Eyes, Face Lift | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel I am just one more over 40 year old (42 years old in June) that’s noticing changes on my face. I am experiencing frown lines between my eyes which I have been told Botox will correct, and lines under my eyes from smiling that Botox can not treat. What do you recommend for the lines under the eyes? It seems like injectable fillers either work the top third (crow’s feet and forehead) or bottom third (marionette lines and nasal-labial lines) of the face. What is available to me that will work the area in between? PLEASE HELP! Andrea, Boca Raton, Fla.

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

resurfacing of the eyelid can only be done if the eyelid is tight not, lax, and only done on fair skin.

Posted in Botox | Comments Off

Dera Dr Seckel, I am an Indian with dark brown skin. Is Fraxel a safe procedure for my skin? I just want to remove some acne scars on my face and also lighten mouth and chin area that is slightly more darker than rest of the face. Thanks, Shal, Sydney, Au.

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

Dear Shal,
Fraxel laser skin rejuvination works well for acne scars. However Fraxel does cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially in dark skinned patients. Palomar has releasd a new laser called the Lux1540 which also benefits acne scarring and the company claims there is less risk of post-inflaammatory hyperpigmentation.
Because of the risk of hyperpigmentation I do not recommend [...]

Posted in Acne | Comments Off

Dear Dr Seckel: Hi, I wonder if you can help me I’m 30 years old for about the > last 2 years I’ve been getting broken blood vessels. First I got a couple > on my face then they seemed to be spreading. I’ve now got them on my chest > my arms my hands my neck I’ve even noticed 2 on my legs and my stomach. I > went to my doctor about a year ago he referred me to the hospital when I > went there they basically asked me if I used a sunbed which I had used one > a few times so I said yes but I don’t believe that’s what caused it because > I have an 8 year old son and I’ve noticed one on his hand and he doesn’t > use a sunbed. I haven’t used a sunbed in about a year and I’m still getting > them they are really making me self-conscious as the summer is coming I > will feel really conscious when I wear a strappy top. Can you please help > me thanks Tracy. Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

Dear Tracy,
IPL, also called photo facial is an excellent and safe non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatment for broken blood vessels. I use the Palomar Starlux lux green IPL, but there are many other IPL or photo facial machines. In England I believe they have the Omnilux which is also good but is different from th IPL. [...]

Posted in Broken Blood Vessels | Comments Off

Dear Dr seckel, I had 4 Fraxel procedures about six months ago. At the direction > of my Dr’s office, I’ve been using hydroquinone since the treatments. > Although in some areas and in some ways my skin does look better, I now > have terrible discoloration on both sides of my face and some on my > forehead. Have you ever heard of this side effect? My Dr’s office insists > that it’s not due to the Fraxel but I believe that it is. I am olive > complected and have relatively sensitive skin. > Thanks for any info! Leslie, San Diego, CA

Sunday, May 14th, 2006

Fraxel is an ablative (micro treatment zones are micro ablated zones in my opinion) laser and

Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Unhappy Results | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, I am a 32-year-old male. I have hollowness under my eyes and would like to use Restylane to fill the area under my eyes. > > The doctor says that he will also inject Botox to prevent the lower eyelid > muscles from moving during the recovery period of 3-4 weeks. > > I have read a few of the responses here and you are against Restylane > under the eyes. > > Why exactly? Thank you, Sheila, Calgary, CN

Saturday, May 13th, 2006

It is not whether but a matter of when someone will be blinded by an inexperienced, non-appropriately trained person injecting a filler into the eye

Posted in Eyelid Rejuvenation | Comments Off

Dear Dr Seckel, 2 years ago I had a lifestyle lift at the age of 42. The results were wonderful in the beginning but I was left with horrible scarring. I understood that I would have a scar in front on my ear, but I have huge scars 1/4″ below my ear that is thick and jagged. I look like I was in a car accident. I cannot wear my hair back or up and I can’t leave the house without self tanning lotion and heavy makeup. I wrote to the Dr. that developed this procedure but he has failed to respond. All I want to do is have this fixed, but I am concerned that this will be very difficult and expensive. Do you think I will have to have a full facelift to repair the scarring? Have you had any emails similiar to mine? Thank you for your time.Kelly, Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006

2 years ago I had a lifestyle lift at the age of 42…but I have huge scars 1/4″ below my ear that is thick and jagged. I look like I was in a car accident. I cannot wear my hair back or up and I can’t leave the house without self tanning lotion and heavy makeup.

Posted in Face Lift, Unhappy Results | Comments Off

Dear Dr Seckel, I’m a 20-year-old male with really dark circles under my eyes. I also have a constant blocked nose, which I think may be one contributing factor. A local doctor said I may be suffering from chronic rhinitis, or I may have a polyp – Could either of these be causing the dark circles? My parents do not have dark circles under their eyes, although my sister has faint ones. I have had the circles for as long as I can remember, since about 5 years old or so, maybe earlier. I am also quite thin – which shows in my face, I believe this makes the circles more prominent. I have enclosed 2 photos so you can see: These dark circles make me look tired and depressed constantly, and I’m looking for any possible way to rid them! Could you please advise me on the best possible course of action? Thank you very much, Shaun , UK.

Sunday, May 7th, 2006

The safest and most effective technique to correct this is a laser procedure called an arcus marginalis release which releases the ligament and then to transplant fat into the hollow or place an implant called a tear trough implant

Posted in Bags and Dark Circles Under The Eyes | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel- I am a 25-year-old male who has had hereditary dark circles under my eyes my whole life. I do not have “bags” per se, but my under eyes are sunken as well as darker in color. I recently consulted a surgeon who suggested a transconjunctival blepharoplasty to “get rid of excess fatty tissue”. I happen to disagree with him, however, being that my under eyes are sunken and, if anything, lack “fatty tissue”. From what I’ve read, transconjuctival belpharoplasties don’t allow for the removal of any excess skin, which worries me because when I pull back slightly on my under eye skin, my eyes look ideal. I am wondering what type of procedure you would suggest for a patient like myself. Thank you, Mark, Malvern, PA.

Saturday, May 6th, 2006

These operations are very complex, require experience, and especially in a young person like you it is essential that they be performed correctly

Posted in Laser Blepharoplasty | Comments Off