Dr. Bray's Plastic Surgery Blog

Do you have love handles, bat wings, muffin tops, saddle bags or jowls that don’t respond to exercise and diet? Laser liposuction might be the right fit for you!

Removal of excess fat has been available for many years using high pressure suction techniques. Routine liposuction is often performed under general anesthesia. This is a slow and often low yield process. Injection of large amounts of fluid compresses and breaks up the fat making it easier to remove. This is called Tumescent Liposuction.

However today, the gold standard for painless liposuction is laser assisted liposuction. This unique technology safely delivers the optimal blend of wavelengths for better fat removal and enhanced tissue tightening. This is a much easier procedure for the patient. Not only safer and easier, with very little down time, but much more fat can be removed. Basically, the way it works the laser helps generate new collagen in the skin and then melts the fat, this makes the fat removal far more thorough than traditional liposuction with better contouring.

The best candidates are men and women who are not significantly over weight, but those who have the “problem areas” that they cant seem to get rid of.

Call today to book your consultation with Dr. Bray, and say goodbye to that stubborn fat!

Choosing the correct surgeon to perform any cosmetic procedure for you is a very important process. Unfortunately, the wide spread use of advertising often leads to improper selections. This is particularly true with the increased flow of information on the internet. Slick advertising is just that. Over the course of my career, which now reaches thirty years, I am as convinced as ever that there are several key components to making the right decision. The first of these is board certification in the area of interest to you. Although there are many specialties and surgeons that cross rather arbitrary lines of distinction, if you want facial procedures, The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the gold standard. What this board certification implies, is that this individual, is highly trained in the complexities of facial anatomy. There is no more intricate anatomy than what occupies the face. The next issue, that is important, is teaching in an academic setting. This is not to suggest that university professors are the best surgeons. Many fine private practice surgeons teach on a part time basis. The key here is to realize that doctors who teach must stay up to date with current procedures and trends. Last and perhaps most important, is your own feeling of relationship and communication with the surgeon in question. If you are not comfortable, seek another consultation. Multiple consultations are often a good but, can be confusing. It is also critical that your surgeon explains everything to your satisfaction. This includes the positive and the negative issues as well as the limitations of any procedure on your unique face. If you follow these suggestions, your chance of being happy and satisfied with your results increases dramatically.

Please try to avoid unproven procedures. Avoid procedures that seem too good to be true because, they probably are. Always try to be realistic about expected results and you will be much happier. Asking family and friends seems like it would be a good idea but, friends and family often have their own agenda and may prove unreliable. In any case, if you keep these suggestions in mind, you will do well with your procedures.

Is this the year of less is better in cosmetic surgery? Many people think this is true because of the general economy. As cosmetic surgeons, we in the field recognize this. The problem is that while there are new procedures and some that are less invasive, patients can often be misled into thinking a lesser procedure will accomplish their needs. This is not correct and leads to frustration and a loss of money not a savings. That being said, the best new procedure for 2010 is the use of the fractionated CO2 laser. There is no question that CO2 laser has been the gold standard in skin resurfacing for almost 20 years. What is new is that the complications associated with CO2 lasers have been virtually eliminated by the new fractionated lasers. In simple terms the power can be individualized and the tissue ablation separated into spaced out components. This eliminates the widespread deep burn that caused all of the problems in the past. Patients may choose the intensity of their treatment by simply telling us, how much down time they can afford. This is usually 3-10 days. The shorter down times have less intense treatment and can then be repeated in six to eight weeks as needed. This allows the patient to achieve the same results as the older CO2 treatments. In addition areas such as the neck, upper chest, and hands can now be treated with excellent results. Skin tightening and quality also occur after about three months.

This is exciting news. However, as alluded to in the first paragraph, don't be fooled into thinking that highly advertised "non invasive" procedures will replace facelift surgery. To achieve the results of good facelift or eyelid surgery, you need to do the surgery.

Rhinoplasty is a nose reshaping procedure ideally performed to refine and reshape your nose to be in better balance with your facial structure and to also relieve any physical problems you may have that affect your breathing capability.

Your nose should fit your facial structure by being balanced with your upper, middle and lower face. Your nose should not be reshaped to copy a celebrity nose but should be reshaped to fit your own unique features.

Factors that can influence the size and shape of your reshaped nose include the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, the thickness of your skin, your age, and your expectations.

Following your rhinoplasty, it is easy to doubt you will be looking better, but day by day your reshaped nose will look less swollen and bruised. Within a week or two, the healing process will be well on its way, and your nose should now enhance your face and work in harmony with your facial structure.

The best compliment you can receive after a rhinoplasty is when no one compliments you on your new nose because it fits your face so well.

If you live in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, or Orange County, California and you have always wanted more balance in your facial structure, please contact the Bray Plastic Surgery Medical Center, Inc. today to find out if rhinoplasty can accomplish that goal for you.

Rhinoplasty refers to surgery that reshapes the nose to make a more attractive look. However, at the same time that cosmetic Rhinoplasty is being performed an experienced surgeon who can correct the airway obstruction and help chronic sinusitis patients. The key is to correct deviations in the septum and treat enlarged turbinates. The recovery time is the same as a cosmetic Rhinoplasty but insurance will often cover the airway portion of the surgery. The procedures are performed in an outpatient setting. This could be performed under local or general anesthesia. Recovery time is usually five to seven days. Please contact Bray Plastic Surgery Medical Center for more information to schedule a complimentary consultation.

A facelift renews your existing signs of aging, but does nothing to halt the aging process. After your recovery period has ended, you can expect to appear refreshed and more youthful. Your results will last for years, but you will continue to age.

It is impossible to predict how long you will keep your new refreshed look before you would consider the need for another facelift, or even if there would be a need for a second facelift. Everyone is different and their skin ages differently. Some individuals have one facelift in their lifetime while others have a second facelift fifteen years after their first.

Ideally, people with good facial skin elasticity, good physical and mental health, non-smokers, and those with realistic expectations as to the results tend to have the best outcomes with long lasting results.

Dr. Bray's goal is to make you look better and feel better about yourself. You should have a facelift when you feel you are ready for one and you feel you will enjoy the benefits it may offer you.

If you feel the time is right for you to have a facelift, please contact the Bray Plastic Surgery Medical Center, Inc. today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your goals with the highly qualified plastic surgeons there that can assist you in deciding what best suits your needs at this time.

Recent advances in surgical techniques, methods and instruments have enabled patients undergoing a facelift to gain more natural results than was previously possible.

Major advances in the field of minimally invasive surgical techniques have been made and have shown the most growth in the area of cosmetic surgical procedures. The number of individuals seeking minimally invasive facelifts has skyrocketed.

Minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedures like facelifts, allow patients to take a preventative approach to cosmetic surgery so they do not have to wait until they have advanced signs of aging before consulting a facelift surgeon such as Dr. David Bray. At the first signs of aging, you can decide to have a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery procedure to correct minor problems, gain a refreshed appearance, and prolong the need for a traditional facelift until a later time.

All cosmetic surgery procedures involve risks as well as benefits, and you should be aware of these prior to consenting to any surgical procedure. It is important to choose a highly qualified surgeon like Dr. Bray who will take the time to educate you and give you confidence in your decision.

If you are considering a facelift, please contact the Bray Plastic Surgery Medical Center, Inc. today and let their highly trained cosmetic surgeons advise you about what options are available and just right for your needs at this time in your life.