indianapolis facelift

Have you ever noticed that people age differently? Some may just have good genes. Some may be “cheating” time and having work done, such as certain procedures my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice perform. But not everyone wants to, or even can, undergo a treatment such as Botox or laser skin resurfacing. Nor is everyone about to undergo a face lift or brow lift just for the sake of beauty. The truth is that where you live could either be preserving your skin or pushing it into early wrinkles and pigment spots.

A recent study has established a strong association between residing near a busy highway, or heavily traffic-filled area, and early skin aging. The study itself was conducted over twenty years and analyzed two groups of people from Germany: one group residing in heavily industrialized areas, and one  group living in sparsely populated rural areas. Due to the research, airborne particles from car exhaust are now ranked third place as the most potentially modifiable factor to cause early skin aging. It falls right beneath ultraviolet radiation and tobacco smoke. Unfortunately, not everyone can relocate to a new home, while managing your exposure to the sun and smoke is a much easier task.

This is not the first offense car exhaust is guilty of when it comes to our health. In fact, its threat is more than skin deep. High exposure to traffic-related airborne particles has been known to impair cognitive function in the elderly and inhibit lung function. As of right now scientists have ongoing studies trying to determine whether this exposure has a hand in causing Alzheimer’s disease too.

We may not always be able to choose where can to reside, but if you must live in an area with high traffic you may want to consider taking extra care of your skin. My Indianapolis plastic surgery practice is also more that capable and more than happy to help as well.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

My Indianapolis plastic surgery practice has seen all types of patients. But nothing compares to the amount of older patients I’ve seen walk into my office lately. In fact, this spike reflects the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s statistic saying there was a two percent increase in patients over 55 last year. I can only imagine that it has increased again this year.

In Indianapolis, procedures like face lifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, and liposuction and treatments like Botox are just as popular with my younger patients as well as my gradually growing older patients. These clients have seen plastic surgery become accepted, and have finally willed themselves to not feel ashamed for wanting to look young. Plastic surgery is no longer taboo like it used to be, so older patients are ready to the take the plunge they’ve always wanted to.

Many of my Indianapolis plastic surgery patients over the age of 55 frequently mention how outspoken older celebrities have also helped them in embracing cosmetic procedures. They see how happy celebrities, such as Sharon Osbourne, openly admit to having work done, proud to have had help in looking the way they look. With society being so accepting, it’s only natural that more people, no matter their age, would consider cosmetic surgery.

In my opinion, you are never too old to want to look your best. If there are no serious risks for the patient, then there is no particular reason that a procedure should not be done. Wanting to look good is a universal feeling.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

It’s natural to start losing your hair, yet we don’t always do it gracefully. In fact, many young people that start losing their hair early have been known to do everything in their power to salvage the hair that is left. My Indianapolis plastic surgery practice performs scalp reductions as well as hair replacement procedures to combat just this.

But what if your whole body, especially your head, couldn’t grow hair at all? This is what people living with Alopecia deal with every day. And with hair becoming more of fashion statement each day, with all the new styles and colors, their only option is a wig. What would you do if you didn’t have hair to style, or even brush?

However, new research shows a glint of hope for a possible cure for Alopecia. Two teams, one at the University of Oxford, England, and one at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have discovered how hair stem cells in mice and rabbits communicate with each other. These stem cells have the ability to communicate with each other to generate a robust hair growth by cycling through an active and dormant state. This lack of communication is partially why Alopecia occurs in people in the first place.

If doctors can only learn how to nurture an environment that allows this communication, a cure to Alopecia could be in sight. With USC’s Stevens Institute for Innovation already applying for a patent on the composition and method to modulate hair growth, this is only the first step.

To your health, beauty and healthy hair growth,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

In Indianapolis, face lifts and Botox are quite popular for combating the aging process. In fact, many cosmetic procedures occur because a patient wants to get rid of wrinkles or simply look and feel younger. But aside from the standard procedures mentioned previously, there isn’t much anti-aging processes that work without the help of a plastic surgeon. However, it seems that there may be a more natural way to combat age if you are not ready to take the plunge into cosmetic procedures, such as the ones I perform every day at my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice.

There are a lot of anti-aging skin creams out there that supposedly work, and some actually do, but the most common ingredients in these creams that do really work are antioxidants. But a new ingredient, the leaf bud of poplar trees, could be the ingredient to push antioxidants out of these creams.

Poplar trees have already been used to combat colds, sinusitis, sunburn and arthritis. But after further study conducted by researcher Xavier Vitrac, the poplar bud has shown that it contains a healthy dose of antioxidant activity. When put to work on some cells in the laboratory it was found that anti-aging effects did occur. Vitrac says that the antioxidant activity was so promising that this extract has a lot of potential to be utilized in cosmetic formulas.

This is great news for those that are not yet ready to undergo Botox injections or a face lift. It is also great news for people who would rather use something natural to combat those pesky wrinkles. But remember, better results are more likely to come out of a cosmetic procedure over a simple cream applied once a day. Whichever you choose, however, is up to you. What’s most important is that you feel good about yourself and your age.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

The European Parliament

A leaked copy of The Practical Guide to the Reimbursement of Medical Expenses revealed that almost £3 million of taxpayer monies will be spent in 2011 by members of the European Parliament (called MEPs). That wouldn’t be shocking if it didn’t include spa visits and cosmetic surgery. During these times of fiscal austerity in Europe, it’s not surprising that this report raised alarms among the taxpayers and media.

The European Parliament’s 736 members, as well as their families, have been reimbursed for cosmetic surgery, anti-aging products & treatments, massages and private spa visits, sometimes at rates of 100% of expenses for these non-essentials.  Husbands and sons of MEPs also received treatment for impotence, although it’s claimed that Viagra is only approved if the condition is a result of illness. During these times of fiscal austerity in Europe, it’s not surprising that this report raised alarms among the taxpayers and media.

There was a time in America that military servicemen and women received free cosmetic surgery such as nose jobs, breast enhancements and face lifts. The logic for that practice was that military plastic surgeons were able to better develop their skills in reconstruction when they were allowed to do cosmetic procedures. In other words, it’s easier to work on the injured if you have additional practice working on the healthy. This ended when a CNN story blasted the practice. Now service personnel can get cosmetic surgery at their military hospitals only by paying a fee.

To my blog readers: Do you think people in the military should get free cosmetic surgery? If so, why or why not? Share your views!

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

Although silicone injections are illegal in the US, many women still receive them. If you ask two or three of your closest beauty-savvy friends whether silicone can be used to augment the lips, buttocks, face, hands or breasts, I’m betting they will say yes. Unfortunately, liquid silicone is often used off-label or on the black market by unqualified providers. You can see from the photo at left that Priscilla Presley’s face was nearly ruined from silicone injections that her doctor told her were “better than Botox.”

Silicone injections first became popular in the 1950s, when they were injected into breasts as a sort of augmentation-without-an implant.  Unfortunately, the injections caused infections, deformities and bumps and were eventually banned by the FDA. Because micro-droplet injections for scars are not banned by the FDA, however, some physicians continue to inject silicone.

Because it lasts forever, silicone does not adapt to aging tissue. The only way to reverse the damage incurred—with a surgical procedure, which might not remove all the silicone or correct the visible effects. Lisa Rinna recently underwent surgery to remove the silicone in her lips, which were injected in the ’80s.

Our plastic surgery practice has a plethora of FDA approved dermal fillers in Indianapolis. Collagen lip augmentation is a much more reliable result than silicone ever was. Sculptra Aesthetic is another option—not for the lips, but an excellent filler for the cheeks and other facial areas.

If you hear from a friend or family member that they are considering silicone injections, please share this blog post with them. It could save them a great deal of discomfort, wasted money and very disappointing results.

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

Did you know that, anytime you undergo any type of cosmetic surgery procedure, from a simple Botox and filler injection, all the way to a face lift or liposuction or other plastic surgery procedure,  you should disclose all medications that you take plus any herbal supplements? It’s true and here’s why.

Herbs like Gingko Biloba, Garlic, Ginseng and St. John’s Wort have proven benefits to your health, but they can also interfere with anesthesia and increase bleeding, even in something as simple as the needle prick from injectable fillers.

Here in our Indianapolis plastic surgery office, we make it a point to confirm medications with our patients, but unless asked, they generally don’t remember to tell us about vitamin supplements or herbs that they take on a regular basis. It’s important to do so, to make sure that your procedure goes as smoothly as possible. Here is a list of herbs that can cause concerns and should be disclosed to your practitioner before any procedure.

Supplements that can increase bleeding:

• Gingko Biloba
• Garlic
• Ginseng
• Fish Oils (omega-3 fatty acids)
• Dong Quai
• Feverfew

Supplements that can interfere with anesthesia:

• Valerian
• St John’s Wort
• Kava

Supplements that can cause other types adverse events:

• St John’s Wort (can cause photosensitivity, especially after laser or chemical peels)
• Ginseng (can cause hypoglycemia)

If you are having any procedure performed, be sure to tell us what you take on a regular basis. Even something as simple as an aspirin should be shared with us!

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff