Dr. Banthia is proud to offer plastic and reconstructive surgery to patients throughout San Jose, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Milpitas and the surrounding areas. Please read below to find Dr. Banthia's answers to some commonly asked questions by our patients.
Q: Cheek Augmentation for Male
will getting cheek implants at a younger age in my 20's mean that ill have to get them again in my 50's or 60's. or is getting them done a permanent thing. is it true that cheek augmentation is an anti aging procedure as well? I'm wanting this done but not to make my face look "fatter" but more chiseled. do both types of cheek implants offer benefits? Male and female? Also, how do I decide what size and shape my plants should be and where they should be placed. I'd hate to have a revision!
A: Cheek augmentation
Cheek implants are permanent implants that -- if properly sized and placed -- offer long-term benefit. Over time, we all lose volume in our faces and in some cases, the previously placed implants can begin to appear unnatural. There are different sizes and shapes of implants that are best discussed and measured to best fit your anatomy during an in-person consultation. In general and in recent years, I believe that more patients are pursuing less permanent but extremely safe, predictable options in volumizing fillers and fat grafting. Fillers such as Perlane, Radiesse, Juvederm Ultra Plus can all provide excellent volumization of the cheeks without the need for surgery. If one is amenable to the possibility of undergoing repeat fat injection sessions, fat grafting is also an excellent option that can yield very long term benefits.
Q: Lumpy and Bumpy 4 Weeks Post-facial Liposuction: Will Massage Help?
I had facial liposuction 4 weeks ago on the area under my chin, neck and "jowls." I am 33 and it looks pretty good. There is some swelling still and it feels lumpy or tight under the skin in some areas. The doctor recommend doing light massage on it at this point. Can using a Clarisonic help? What kind of massage/technique should I do and how often? When will the swelling subside?
A: Lumpiness after chin liposuction is usually temporary
'Lumps and bumps' after neck liposuction (or any liposuction procedure for that matter) are not uncommon. These are contour irregularities that may last up to several months -- rarely are these irregularities permanent. Using your thumbs to massage the relevant areas is an excellent start to obtaining smooth results. Occasionally, small aliquot steroid injections may be necessary to hasten resolution. In our practice, we use radio frequency-based laser devices 3 weeks post-operatively to soften and massage out any irregularities. This is highly effective as improvements can be seen immediately -- and there is no downtime!
Q: Am I a Candidate for Chin Liposuction (Male)?
I am attaching two profile photos of me with my head in its normal position. I am an actor, and so having a tight chin/neck area is important to me. Right now, it is sagging and I want to deal with this, but I am not sure if this can be dealt with via lipo. If I am not a candidate for lipo, what other options do I have to deal with this?
A: Chin liposuction
While there is no substitute for an in-person consultation and examination, it seems that your pictures show just a slight laxity in the submental (under chin) area. Laser liposuction would likely be your best option as you really don't have significant fatty deposits in this area; rather, you would likely benefit the most from the skin tightening from the laser (after gentle liposuction in this area). Additionally, depending upon your skin type -- you may be a good candidate from external laser resurfacing to even further tighten any skin laxity in your neck area. In our practice, we perform all of these procedures under local anesthesia. If patients really desire more extreme forms of anesthesia, we can offer IV sedation or full general anesthesia.
Q: Non-Invasive Procedure to Remove Double Chin
I would like to get rid of my "double chin" but I absolutely cannot have time off from work and showing up there wearing pressure bandage after liposuction is simply impossible.
Are there any options that will allow me to improve the contour under my chin? I am 38, normal weight.
A: Laser liposuction will muscle tightening is a great procedure
Laser liposuction to the chin and neck areas is an excellent option to improve the contour of the neck and jawline. The incisions are small, and the downtime is minimal -- although it would be wise to take at least a few days off as suggested by the previous expert posters (i.e., performing the procedure on a Friday so that you have a few days off before returning to work). I have found that while laser liposuction (whether it be SmartLipo or ProLipo) is, in general, a great procedure, there is some unpredictability with respect to results. In my practice, I combine laser liposuction to the chin / neck areas with the jowls / lower face areas in addition to an associated neck muscle tightening procedure (called a "platysmaplasty"). This engenders excellent neck contours and yields a more defined angulation which is what most patients desire. The procedure can be done in approximately 30-45 minutes and under local anesthesia.
Q: Botox to Correct Wrinkled Eyelid?
I am 47 and am getting a vertical wrinkle in my eyelids (from the brow area to lid). Is Botox an appropriate corrective measure for this or is surgery required to correct?
A: Minimize lid wrinkles with lasers
Injecting Botox into the eyelid may cause lid droop, or ptosis -- a better method to instill skin tightening and minimize wrinkles involves the use of lasers. Laser resurfacing in the upper eyelid area (either fractionated or fully ablative) can dramatically improve / minimize wrinkles. I have had a good deal of success in tightening the upper and lower lid areas with the use of a combination ablative / fractionated laser (depending upon skin type) -- to the extent that the need for surgery is obviated in many cases.