One of the most exciting recent developments in plastic surgery has been the degree to which men have begun to embrace the possibilities of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.  Since 2000, the number of plastic surgery procedures performed on men in the United States has increased by over 20%, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).  As the social stigma attached to male plastic surgery diminishes, men are coming to more readily opt to take advantage of what these procedures have to offer.

The majority of this increase in popularity is due to the increased use of non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures.  Botox® Cosmetic injectable treatments, for example, can help alleviate many of the signs of facial aging, particularly the lines that develop between and above the brows and the crow’s feet that can accumulate at the edges of the eyes, by relaxing the facial muscles that cause wrinkling in the first place.  On the other hand, facial fillers like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, help restore the volume and youthful “plumpness” that gradually diminishes in the tissues of the face over the years.  Together, these quick and easy maintenance procedures can effectively counteract the damage caused by time and environmental factors, keeping your skin and face looking younger, longer.

However, the fascination with maintenance procedures doesn’t end with the non-invasive.  Over the past several years, men have been increasingly drawn to a number of surgical procedures designed to relieve tiny pockets of excess fat and tissue in areas that are either genetic or notoriously difficult to exercise.  Specifically, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and liposuction remain two of the top five most popular cosmetic procedures among men, and both are excellent ways to make those minor, subtle changes that can make a significant difference in the overall appearance.

If you have any questions about any of the treatments that I offer, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.  Additionally, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. provides a variety of options for financing, including Care Credit®, to assist you.  Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

No one can argue that the use of Botox® cosmetic to help alleviate the signs of facial aging has become incredibly popular.  In 2013 alone, over 6.3 million treatments were preformed in the United States with Botulinum Toxin Type A, the active ingredient in cosmetic injectables like Botox® and Dysport®, and that number continues to rise every year.  However, despite its incredible popularity, many don’t know the fascinating history behind the development of this extremely versatile facial rejuvenation procedure.

1820’s – Dr. Justinus Kerner studies a batch of improperly prepared blood sausages responsible for the death of several dozen Germans.  His experiments lead to a better understanding of the neurological symptoms of food-borne botulism (drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, and if left untreated, paralysis and respiratory failure).

1890’s – While investigating an outbreak of botulism, Dr. Emile Pierre van Ermengem of Belgium is able to make a connection between botulism and a spore-forming bacterium he named Bacillus botulinus (later renamed Clostridium botulinum).

1953 – Physiologist Dr. Vernon Brooks discovers that injecting small amounts of botulinum toxin into a hyperactive muscle blocks the release of acetylcholine from motor nerve endings, causing temporary “relaxation” and reducing involuntary muscle spasms.

1978 – After several years of injecting botulinum toxin type A into monkeys in an attempt to discover if its muscle relaxing effects might help in the treatment of strabismus, or crossed eyes, Dr. Alan B. Scott receives FDA approval to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into human volunteers.

1988 – The pharmaceutical company Allergan Inc. acquires the rights to distribute Scott’s batch of botulinum toxin type A, and begins conducting additional research.  Eventually, it is discovered that the drug can also provide patients with temporary relief from facial spasms, neck and shoulder spasms, and even vocal cord spasms.

1989 – The FDA approves botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of both strabismus (crossed eyes) and blepharospasm (spasms of the eyelid muscle).  Allergan introduces it to the market under the brand name Botox® Cosmetic.

1992 – After noticing that her blepharospasm patients were starting to lose their frown lines, Canadian ophthalmologist Dr. Jean Carruthers, and her dermatologist husband, publishes a study in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology stating that though temporary, “treatment with C. botulinum-A exotoxin is a simple, safe procedure” for the treatment of brow wrinkles.

1997 – Botox® use increases so rapidly that the country’s supply is temporary exhausted until a new batch receives FDA approval.

2002 – FDA approves Botox® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA), the same formulation as Botox®, for use in alleviating moderate to severe frown lines between the eye brows.

2004 – FDA approves Botox® for the treatment of severe underarm sweating that does not respond well to topical medicines.

2006 – Botox® sales soar past the $1 billion mark, with cosmetic uses accounting for about half of sales.

2010 – FDA approves Botox® therapy for increased muscle stiffness in elbow, wrist, and finger muscles with upper limb spasticity.   Later that year, Botox® becomes the first medicine to be approved by the FDA specifically for the prevention of headaches in adults who suffer from chronic migraines.

2014 – Botox® Cosmetic receives FDA approval for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe crow’s feet, also known as lateral canthal lines.

If you have any questions about Botox® cosmetic or are interested in any of the treatments that I offer, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.  Additionally, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. provides a variety of options for financing, including Care Credit®, to assist you.  Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

Many people would like to look slimmer or more toned, and even if you exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet you may find yourself troubled by localized fat deposits that seem to cling to specific areas no matter what you do.  Often these areas of concern can be addressed with liposuction, a body contouring procedure that suctions out stubborn fat deposits and provides a more slender and shapely physique.

It is important to note that liposuction is not an effective treatment for obesity, nor is it a substitute for proper diet and exercise.  Liposuction does not have the ability to tighten skin that has been stretched by fat deposits or to remove cellulite, the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks.  In fact, the removal of fat deposits with liposuction can, in some cases, leave sagging skin behind, particularly in more mature patients whose skin has lost some of the elasticity of youth.

The abdomen is an area commonly treated with liposuction in both men and women, as it can stubbornly hold on to fat deposits and is notoriously difficult to exercise effectively.  When the body first begins to store fat, it does so in areas where it can do the most good, protecting and serving the nutritional needs of the vital organs in the abdomen.  Only then does it go on to store fat in the less vital areas, like the arms and legs.  However, when losing weight, the body more readily gives up fat cells in the less vital areas first and stubbornly holds on to fat in the vital core.  That’s why it can be so difficult to lose weight in the abdomen and hip areas.  Only once fat has been nearly eliminated from everywhere else in the body will the fat in the abdomen even begin to be released.

Liposuction can provide benefits to the extremities, such as the upper arms and thighs, as well.  Such procedures may sometimes require more than one treatment to achieve the desired results.  However, they are less invasive than procedures like arm and thigh lifts, and so produce less scarring and require less down time.  In some cases, fat can be removed, via fat transfer techniques, from the hips, flanks, or thighs, and then re-injected into areas that may require augmentation or greater definition, such as the buttocks or even areas of the face.

If you’re interested in liposuction or any of the other cosmetic or reconstructive procedures that I perform, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.  Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. provides a variety of options for financing, including Care Credit®, in order to assist you.  Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

As the face ages, skin and tissue begin to lose their elasticity and start to sag, causing wrinkles and folds.  This can be particularly noticeable around the eyes, where sagging skin can make eyelids appear heavy and the eyes small, creating the appearance of boredom, disinterest, or general fatigue.  In some cases, the drooping eyelids can even impair vision by obstructing part of the visual field.  These concerns can be addressed with blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, which can improve the appearance of the eyes by creating a more aesthetically pleasing natural contour, or correct many functional issues that might arise.

Blepharoplasty trims the loose, sagging skin which creates folds and removes excess fatty deposits that can appear as puffiness in the eyelids or bags under the eyes.  Depending on each patient’s specific aesthetic goals, eyelid surgery can be performed on the upper and lower lids, either individually or in combination for maximum rejuvenation.  Additionally, many of the upper eyelid procedures that I perform can be done in my office in about an hour.  Eyelid surgery is considered a cosmetic facial procedure that can accomplish more than just subtle facial rejuvenation.  In fact, many younger patients are seeking out the procedure as well.

Statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveal that eyelid surgery has been steadily growing in popularity among patients under thirty for the past five years.  These patients have, presumably, experienced little of the sagging and loss of skin laxity that accompanies aging, but are still interested in the benefits that blepharoplasty can provide.  Some have speculated that this steady growth is, in part, the result of the rising popularity of blepharoplasty among younger patients of Asian descent who desire wider, more alert looking eyes that still maintain the subtle crease, downward-angled epicanthic fold, and flared outer edge that has been considered aesthetically pleasing.  Whether or not this is the case, it definitely seems clear that blepharoplasty can have wide ranging cosmetic results that go beyond merely minimizing the effects of aging.

If you’re interested in any of the cosmetic procedures that I perform in Atlanta and Alpharetta, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.  I also provide a variety of options for financing, including Care Credit®, in order to assist you.  Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

Women today are opting for more subtle, natural looking options in all forms of cosmetic surgery, particularly when it comes to breast augmentation.  In the past, large, round breast implants were common, but today, modestly-sized, shaped implants, which have more projection at the bottom and are tapered towards the top, have become increasing popular.  While round implants have a tendency to make the breast appear fuller and can achieve more projection and cleavage, in some cases they can appear less natural and more artificial, particularly when sized too large to comfortably fit the patient’s frame.  Shaped breast implants mimic the natural form and contour of the female breast, achieving results that are often indistinguishable from the real thing.  Round implants are also easier to insert, since they are the same shape all over and so resist rotating out of place.  Shaped implants, on the other hand, may shift within the “pocket” created for them during surgical implantation, making the breast appear distorted and unusual.  To alleviate this concern, the most advanced shaped implants have a textured surface, allowing healing tissue to adhere to the implant and making accidental repositioning far less likely.

One of the most recent advances in breast augmentation is the introduction of what are known as “gummy bear implants.”  These shaped and textured implants are filled with a more cohesive form of silicone with a thicker consistency than traditional silicone or saline.  This makes them “form-stable”, which not only creates a firmer final result, but is also ideal in that the cohesive gel maintains its shape even in the case of accidental rupture.

Some women, specifically those who are generally happy with the size of their breasts but uncomfortable with the sagging that occurs with age, have shown a preference for breast lift, or mastopexy, procedures over augmentation with implants.  In fact, according to statistics published by the American Society of Plastic surgeons, the number of breast lift procedures performed in the United States has increased by 70% since 2000, almost double the rate of increase in breast augmentations.  A breast lift can reposition the breasts to a higher, more youthful position while making them appear more firm and lifted.  Often, some of my patients opt to combine breast lift and breast augmentation to not only gain higher placement of the breasts on the chest, but also to make them fuller with implants.

If you’re interested in a breast procedure that I offer, please contact us today to schedule a consultation. Connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

There are many options available today for facial rejuvenation, ranging from minimally-invasive skin resurfacing techniques and injectable cosmetics to surgical procedures like blepharoplasty and facial liposuction.  The most dramatic and long lasting results can still be achieved by a traditional facelift procedure, or rhytidectomy.  Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons list facelifts as one of the five most commonly performed procedures in 2013, and their popularity continues to increase each year.  While many procedures may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery, a traditional facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results.

A facelift procedure cannot radically change a person’s appearance or stop the aging process, but it can dramatically improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck.  Facelifts are designed to alleviate sagging in the mid-face and the deep creases below the lower eyelids or along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth.  They also can correct the loss of skin tone in the lower face that creates jowls and remove the excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw that can give even a person of normal weight the appearance of a double chin.  Many also choose to complement a facelift procedure with a neck lift or eyelid surgery in order to maximize their final results.

A full facelift procedure involves the removal of excess fat and skin, the tightening of underlying muscles, and the repositioning of the skin around the face and neck.  Traditionally, facelift incisions began in the hairline at the temples, continued around the ear, and ended in the lower scalp.  However, modern techniques allow for shorter incisions hidden in the natural creases of the face.  I also perform a special facelift technique, originally developed at Emory, which tightens and supports the strong suspensory ligaments deeper in the face, effectively prolonging the plastic surgery results.

If you’re interested in cosmetic or reconstructive procedures that I perform, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.  Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

Men and women today are more health conscious than ever before.  Increased access to information and improved education have made people more aware of what they put into their bodies and, with increasing frequency, many are opting for natural, unprocessed ingredients and products.  For example, there are many people who may desire to improve their overall shape with different body contouring procedures, but may be wary of the idea of having a foreign object placed in their bodies.  Fortunately, several body contouring options exist that utilize more natural methods, such as your own body fat, to achieve completely natural and highly satisfying results.

Fat transfer has long been performed as a facial rejuvenation procedure to fill facial wrinkles and augment the cheeks, lips and other areas requiring volume restoration.  The Brazilian butt lift uses a similar technique to take fat that has been removed from your own body through liposuction while carefully purifying it, and then using it to increase the size, fullness, roundness and projection of the buttocks.  Moreover, the removal of excess fat in the areas around the site of the buttocks allows me to achieve a more defined contour, accentuating the curves that result.

I also perform breast lift (mastopexy) procedures using an auto-augmentation technique where the lower breast tissue is moved from underneath your breast and sutured higher up on your chest.  This not only lifts and firms the breasts, restoring them to a more youthful position, but also adds volume and fullness without the use of artificial implants.  The ideal candidate for breast auto augmentation already has enough breast volume to create the fullness desired without implants, so the results are determined by the amount of tissue available.  As a result, the final effect cannot be as pronounced or significant as the results that can be achieved with implants; however, breast auto augmentation can work well to rejuvenate deflated breasts certain women experience after significant weight loss.  Using only natural tissue taken from your own body also avoids the possibility of capsular contracture, a rare complication that can arise after breast augmentation surgery where the body forms excess scar tissue around the artificial implant, creating an overly firm and rigid breast texture.

If you’re interested in body contouring, cosmetic, or reconstructive procedures that I offer, please contact us today to schedule a consultation. Connect with me, Dr. Hunter Moyer, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.