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Have you noticed a sagging neck and jawline? Tired looking eyes? A loss of volume in your face? Most patients who are interested in facial rejuvenation are looking to address a multitude of concerns. Whether my patients have important life events such as weddings or reunions, they feel they look tired, or skin care, makeup and injectables are no longer doing what they used to do. To put it simply, they are not happy with the effects of gravity and aging and want to look on the outside as good as they feel on the inside.

 

Are Virtual Consultations Effective?

Rejuvenation options are googled, doctors are researched, and consultations are performed. Going forward, an essential, yet efficient change is going to be the acceptance and eventual reliance on virtual consultations.  I for one, am  supportive of virtual consultations- I feel they are convenient, easy to set up, and it saves precious time for my patients.

My practice has always offered virtual consultations for our out of town and international patients, so why not widen the catch. Social distancing has pushed our boundaries and has forced us to think ‘outside of the box’ of what our status quo was.

Are Virtual Consultations the new reality?

During a virtual consultation, I am able to provide high quality virtual analysis.  Once the patient and I have decided on best procedure or treatment options, we can schedule the date, and setup upcoming calls/appointments to prepare you for the procedure date. Usually, the conversation around dates has to do with travel plans and work commitments. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, it has really pushed the boundaries for those of you that are able to work from home and has created a profound transformation in how many of us will continue to work going forward. The limits of working remotely in the office is being tested and will definitely become widely accepted as a new norm. This has many benefits by allowing flexibility in scheduling our lives and improved quality of life for many employees, to be able to work and be productive without dealing with commutes or distracting environments- for us, its going to provide our patients with ample time to recover from their procedures.

Easier Facelift Recovery and More Downtime

The conversations I have with my patients concerning 10-14 days away from work will no longer be such a worry. If you don’t want anyone to know that you are undergoing a procedure,  you can resume working from home within 3-4 days after your procedure. This has the advantage of remaining productive during your ‘healing time’ without interfering too much with your occupational commitments.

Additionally, our recovery schedules will open up as I believe that our travel schedules will not be the same. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, I think we all will be a little weary about travel in the near future, so what better use of any ‘staycation’ time than recovering from your procedures.

The future will likely be a blend of what life was like before the COVID-19 crisis and now- the ‘new normal’, and I think we will all adapt to what works.

If you’re considering facial rejuvenation, the best first step is to set up an appointment for a consultation. We offer a variety of contact options for maximal convenience (phone, email, text, etc). During the initial contact (phone, email, text, etc), our staff will ask you questions to get you prepared for your visit and will schedule a time for you to come in for an in person or a virtual consultation.

Once you’ve scheduled your consultation, here are a few things you should do to prepare:

 

1. Fill out medical history forms

You are able to fill out your medical history and registration forms online through our patient portal. Be sure to mention any family history or past medical conditions, as well as current conditions and medications. You can fill this our prior to your consultation or on the day of at our registration kiosk.

 

2. Come with questions and bring a picture

Write them down ahead of time so you don’t forget them at the time of the visit. We want to make sure that you have all your questions answered and all your concerns addressed, no matter how small they may seem. We also recommend that you bring a photo of yourself from 5-10-15 years ago so we can analyze your goals with what we are able to achieve.

 

3. Open Discussion

During your consultation, you will have your pictures taken and meet with your patient coordinator and the physician. This is the time to express any questions or concerns you have. Our expert patient coordinator will explain the aging process so you have an understanding as to what your treatments options will be. You will then meet with the physician and they will determine the best course of action with you.

 

4. Figure out your financing options

It’s important to know our elective procedures will not be covered by insurance. If you need assistance into payment options like financing; our patient coordinators can walk you through the process of applying.

 

5. Bring your calendar to your consultation

Different procedures require different healing periods, so you should be ready to check your schedule to find the best time to get the procedure you want. You may need to take time off from work, depending on the surgery, so you should factor that in as well. Do you have vacation days you are able to use? Do you have any big events coming up in your life? These are questions you will want to ask yourself in selecting a surgical date. You will receive a patient journey booklet from us as your own personal guide throughout the entire process.

 

6. Consider bringing someone with you to the consultation

Two heads are better than one as there may be a lot of information to process. Again, getting cosmetic surgery is a big decision, so you may find it helpful to discuss your options and get a second opinion from someone you trust. Ultimately, the choice is up to you, but it never hurts to get the reassurance from a friend, relative or other loved one.

 

If you do all of these things to prepare for your visit, we’re sure you will have a successful and productive consultation, and you will leave the office feeling confident about your decisions.

We’re here to help you every step of the way before, during and after your journey with us.

 

Have you ever noticed that having a sharp, defined jawline is a sign of health and youth? A well-defined jaw can help you look younger at any age. In men, a strong jaw reflects confidence and for both men and women, definition in the chin and jawline can also improve the neck contours and refine a double chin.

If you have struggled to get the jawline of your dreams despite diet and exercise, or predisposed to never have a defined jawline or a weak chin, do not worry! You have some non-surgical and surgical options available, thanks to modern plastic surgery.

For patients of all ages who want to boost their appearance and add balance to their facial features, Dr. Madnani and our team of injectors offer the option of jawline contouring as well as non-surgical chin augmentation.

Both women and men can take advantage of injectable cosmetic products to create a contoured jawline or defined chin that frames the face; a weak or poorly defined side profile can be improved. However, there are differences in technique and shapes to produce a difference in results for male and female patients. Contouring a man’s jaw with fillers requires the development of angles and straight lines to enhance the bone structure of the individual. A balanced profile for a woman is characterized by soft curves, which feminize the face. Men and do well wider and more projected chins resulting in a squarer appearance, while for women, a narrower angled appearance is preferred.

What are the options for chin and jawline contouring?

Dr. Madnani and our team of injectors are able to improve the jawline by combining fillers with masseter reduction using a neurotoxin such a Botox. In females, it can produce a more symmetrical, heart-or V-shaped look to the face for people whose face, when viewed from the front, is more of a square shape. A well-defined angle in the jaw provides space for framing the face from the chin. Fillers can be used to shape, define and enhance the contours of the lower face. It also has the added advantage of reducing the presence of loose skin and, when paired with chin augmentation, it can eliminate the presence of a double chin.

Another non-surgical option is Kybella to the neck and chin fat. If you have mild excess fat, you can melt this fat with a melting agent called Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment to reduce fat under the chin. This minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure is designed to contour away the double chin. The results are permanent, assuming you maintain your overall weight since the fat is physically melted.

How much does non-surgical chin and jawline contouring cost?

The cost varies based on the treatment option you choose. Options and pricing vary depending on products used; fillers vs neurotoxins vs deoxycholic acids. Schedule a consultation to receive an accurate price!

Is there a downtime for chin and jawline contouring?

The best part of non-surgical jawline contouring is that there is minimal to no downtime! It all depends on the products used. Fillers and neurotoxins such as botox do not have much downtime associated with them.

Does nonsurgical jaw contouring hurt?

In general, the pain is very tolerable. A topical anesthetic can be applied to the treatment area to lessen any discomfort. Cold compress or Ice is also used to help minimize any discomfort or swelling afterwards.

Are there any other benefits to nonsurgical jawline contouring?

Patients who suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular) syndrome can also benefit from receiving Botox, or a different neurotoxin to the masseter muscle, as it helps to reduce the contraction of masseter muscle.

Surgical Options for Jawline Contouring

Patients who have a small to significant amount of fat and loose skin around the neck and jawline areas also have surgical choices. The main procedure available is liposuction or a combination of laser with liposuction- we have a device that is part of the SmartLiposuction platform called Precision Tx.

Neck liposuction and jawline liposuction can remove fat and give you a perfectly sculpted jawline. This procedure is best if you have fat that is just under the skin and not under the neck muscles. You will also notice mild to moderate skin tightening with liposuction. Since the fat is physically removed from the areas, this is a great permanent option. Combining this procedure with laser using the Precision Tx device from the SmartLipo platform, adds further skin contraction. As the laser is placed underneath the skin, and angled in two directions – the skin undersurface and the surface of the underlying platysma muscles- it heats up these areas during the treatment and causes contraction of the overlying skin over the next few months, resulting in a shrink-wrapping effect to further contour the neck and jawline.

Whether you decide to go the nonsurgical or the surgical route, our team will be able to accommodate and figure out what treatment option is best for you.

Those of us with round faces know the struggle: making the “duck face” in photos. Trying (unsuccessfully) to master the art of makeup contouring. Performing facial exercises to no avail. Unfortunately, round, chubby, chipmunk-like cheeks are a stubborn problem—one that’s impossible to suck in, cover up, or erase with an Instagram filter. Thankfully, there are minimally-invasive ways to get rid of paunchy, sagging cheeks—give Dr. Madnani a syringe or a scalpel, and he can dramatically re-sculpt and slim your features.

Interested in learning more about how to slim a round face? Read on to discover two of Dr. Madnani’s favorite, minimally-evasive methods.

METHOD #1: Buccal Fat Removal

Feel like your cheeks are too full? Crave sharp, well-defined cheekbones? If you’re nodding your head ‘yes,’ then buccal fat removal might be the perfect fit for you. This minor surgical procedure can help slim round cheeks, giving your face a narrower, more contoured look.

What is buccal fat, anyway?

The hereditary condition of plump cheeks is caused by excess Buccal Fat—the fat pads that sit right below your cheekbones. When these pads are large, they can hide the contours of your upper cheekbone and lower jawbone. You can’t get rid of buccal fat through diet or exercise, either—people with excess buccal fat can have plump, chipmunk-like cheeks, even if they don’t have much fat on the rest of their body.

Is buccal fat removal right for me?

Great question! While it’s difficult to say without a consultation, Buccal fat removal might be a good choice for you if:

• You want your face to look slimmer. If you have round, puffy, or sagging cheeks, buccal fat removal might be a great option for you. Of course, you’ll need to consult with a plastic surgeon to ensure that your cheek size is actually due to buccal pads, and not fat deposits or an over-developed muscle in your jaw (the masseter muscle).
• You’re at your goal weight.Buccal fatpads aren’t the only things that cause chubby cheeks—weight gain can also result in unwanted roundness. Because of this, buccal fat removal is especially helpful to those who have already lost a significant amount of weight but see no changes in the face.

If you plan to lose weight, you’ll want to make sure your cheek fullness is due to buccal fat pads—meaning, it’s a hereditary issue. Why? If you have buccal fat removed and then lose weight, your face might look thinner than you’d like.

What happens during a buccal fat removal procedure?

Buccal Fat removal is a minor surgical procedure. Dr. Madnani performs it under local anesthesia, so you can head home directly after.

Here’s how it works: First, Dr. Madnani places some local anestheisa around your mouth- similar to what a dentis does. Then hemakes incisions on the inside of your cheeks. He then, gently “teases out” all or some of the fat pad, depending on your desired look. In most cases, this outpatient surgery takes less than an hour!

What about the recovery?

Luckily, recovery time for buccal fat removal is minimal. After the procedure, you should plan to spend at least 48 hours recuperating at home.

To help alleviate swelling, you’ll need to regularly apply ice packs to your cheeks and keep your head elevated at all times. For the first few days after your surgery, you should try to sleep upright. (You can prop yourself up in bed with pillows, or sleep in a recliner.)

Another important thing to note: Dr. Madnani uses intraoral incisions, meaning your stitches will be on the inside of your mouth. Because of this, you’ll need to eat a soft or liquid diet for three to four days following your procedure.

When can I go back to work?

In most cases, patients can return to work three to four days after their procedure.

However, you will experience noticeable swelling for about seven to ten days after surgery. If this concerns you, you might want to stay home until it subsides.

Will I have noticeable scarring?  

Nope! Because Dr. Madnani uses only intraoral incisions (inside your mouth),you won’t have any visible scars.

When will I see results from buccal fat removal?

You can expect swelling, bruising and discomfort immediately following surgery. For the first two or three days after your procedure, your cheeks will appear puffy and noticeably swollen—but by day seven, the swelling will start to fade. Within ten days, your new and improved cheeks will begin to reveal themselves.

Note: It takes time for your skin to fully heal and settle into the hollowed-out space caused by buccal fat removal. Because of this, it can take up to three months to see your final results. (However, you should have a pretty good idea of how your cheeks will look by the end of the first month.)

How long will my buccal fat removal results last?

Buccal Fat removal offers beautifully long-lasting results. However, if you experience significant weight gain, it is possible for your cheeks to regain some plumpness.

Are there any risks?

When performed by a well-trained surgeon like Dr. Madnani, buccal fat removal is a safe and straight forwardprocedure.

However, all surgery carries risks. While rare, side effects may include numbness or other changes in sensation, prolonged swelling, injury to the salivary duct, asymmetry, and temporary or permanent facial muscle weakness.

Want to learn more about buccal fat removal? Contact Dr. Madnani for a consultation at (332) 216-0176.

 

METHOD #2: FILLERS + BOTOX/Dysport

Using fillers to make your face look slimmer may seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually a wonderful non-surgical solution to sculpting the face back to its youthful shape.

Dr Madnani likes to place fillers in areas of the cheeks where contouring with make up is performed. He prefers to use either Restylane Lyft or Voluma to augment and liftsagging. These fillers are specifically designed to restorevolume for a more youthful facial profile and  often used in conjunction with Botox injections to rejuvenate the entire face.

How does it work?

As you age, your cheeks start to deflate and sag—strategically-placed dermal filler injections like Voluma or restylane lyft can correct age-related volume loss, providing you with both contour and lift. What’s more, volumizing the midface creates a more youthful facial shape, making your features appear angular rather than saggy and rounded.

Using Botox in tandem with fillers can be extremely beneficial as well. Botox relaxes the muscle contractions that cause fine lines, while fillers plump up the folds and hollows, providing a lifting effect. Using the two in conjunction is a highly effective way to smooth, lift, and rejuvenate the entire face.

Are fillers + botox/dysportright for me?

Maybe you were born with defined cheekbones, but have recently noticed sagging. Or maybe you want to get the cheekbones and definition you’ve always dreamed of, but never had. In either case, fillers like Voluma or restylane lyftcan be a great solution for you.

Voluma/Restylane lyftis affordable and non-invasive for both men and women alike, and can help a wide range of clients achieve youthful midface volume. It is primarily designed to treat the following areas:

• Apple of the cheeks
• Upper cheek around the cheekbone
• Cheek hollow below the cheekbone

Additionally, if you’re experiencing some sagging but aren’t ready to commit to surgery, fillers like Voluma/Restylane lyftare the perfect option for you. The lift can besubtle fairly subtle, but the end result can be life-changing.

What happens during filler and botox procedures? Will they hurt? 

Typically, it takes 15-30 minutes to administer the fillers. Pain is minimal—because the injections contain lidocaine and are administered using a very fine needle, discomfort is kept to an absolute minimum. Other adjunctive measures such as ice packa and a gold beauty wand are used to further improve comfort for the procedures.

Similarly to facial fillers, Botox ordysportis administered using very fine needles. The area is numbed with topical ice packs combined with a gentle touch, the treatment results in little or no discomfort for the patient.

With both fillers,results can be seen immediately. Even better? Patients are able to return to regular activities as soon as the procedure is over, with zero downtime. Wrinkle reducers like botox or dysport, take a few days to start seeing some results and full results are seen in 10-14 days.  

What about the recovery?

As previously mentioned, you can resume most activities right away after receiving fillers. However, to minimize swelling and bruising, we recommended avoiding strenuous physical activity for the first 24-48 hours after your procedure.

There is no downtime after Botox/dysport injections, either—patients may return to work and regular activities right away.

When will I see results?

Results from Voluma/restylane lyftcan be seen right away, although full results may not be apparent for a week or two. Your skin may appear softer, with a more rounded, youthful appearance.

With both fillers,results can be seen immediately. Even better? Patients are able to return to regular activities as soon as the procedure is over, with zero downtime. Wrinkle reducers like botox or dysport, take a few days to start seeing some results and full results are seen in 10-14 days.

Will there be any side effects?

After receiving injectables, usually there are no side effects. Patients leave the office with minor redness which dissipates over the next hour. It’s not uncommon for patients to experience minor soreness, swelling or minor bruising (rarely) in the area around the injection sites. Use an ice pack or cold compress to help alleviate these symptoms

How long do the results last?

Voluma/restylane lyft is one of the longest-lasting fillers, with results extending up to two years for some patients depending on the number of syringes used.

Botox in the cheeks will generally last for four to six monthsin most patients.

To learn more about Voluma, restylany lyft, Botox, dysport, or other options in soft tissue filler treatments, contact Dr. Madnani at (332) 216-0176.

*Individual results may vary. **All photos are real patient images and not altered in any way.

Fat transfer is a way to add volume to one area of the face or body while sculpting another. The process actually consists of two steps; removing fat from one area of the body and then replacing those fat cells in another area to restore youthful volume and fullness. For many patients, fat transfer has replaced injectable dermal fillers as the go-to choice in facial enhancement. Dr. Madnani and the staff at Madnani Facial Plastic Surgery has some good reasons why fat transfer might be the right choice for you as well.

Double Benefit

Unlike dermal fillers, fat transfer offers two benefits in a single treatment session. First, liposuction is used to remove fat from one area of the body. The procedure focuses on stubborn areas of fat that mar the overall body contour and do not respond to diet and exercise efforts. This minimally-invasive surgical procedure can be performed under local anesthesia and improves the body profile in those common problem areas like the waist, abdomen and thighs.

As one area of the body is carefully sculpted to create a smoother, leaner contour, another area in need of additional fullness can be enhanced. Removed fat cells are purified so that they can be injected in a similar fashion to dermal fillers. Common areas for fat injections include under the eyes, along the cheekbones or jawline or in the temple area. By plumping up these areas, we can effectively restore volume for a more youthful facial profile and appearance overall.

Safe, Natural and Long-Lasting

Using a patient’s own fat to augment areas of the face completely eliminates the risk of an allergic reaction. The results also tend to look and feel more natural than synthetic fillers, since it is the patient’s own cells that are used in the injection process. Fat transfer also lasts much longer than the results of dermal fillers. While more than half of the fat placed into the area will eventually be reabsorbed by the body, the remaining fat will maintain positive results for many years. On the other hand, dermal fillers only tend to last for 6-12 months before a touch-up procedure is required.

Customizable to Each Patient

Fat transfer is a highly customizable procedure that can be tailored to the unique needs of each patient. Liposuction areas can be carefully chosen based on the areas of the body that the patient is most unhappy with. As long as there is sufficient fat for the transfer process, patients can opt to remove isolated deposits from the midsection, hips, thighs, buttocks and back. Even smaller areas like under the chin and behind the knees can be sculpted through different liposuction techniques.

At the same time, injections of fat can also be strategically placed precisely where the patient would like to see improvements. Because there are no incisions involved with the procedure, there is no worry over leaving visible scarring behind. A single liposuction procedure may also yield enough fat cells to cover more than one area of the face, allowing the plastic surgeon to make subtle improvements throughout for an overall improvement in appearance.

Fat transfer is performed right in Dr. Madnani’s office, using local anesthesia for the liposuction procedure. Patients are able to return home the same day as treatment and most are back to all of their regular activities within a few short days. To learn more about how fat transfer can benefit you, contact Madnani Facial Plastic Surgery at (332) 216-0176 or 6(516)299-9861.