Candidates for the Beverly Hills Necklift

There are two different classes of patients seeking necklift surgery.

The first group consists of younger patients who have always had a fullness under their jawline. Their problem is more of an anatomical nature where the muscles that form the floor of the mouth are oriented obliquely downward rather than parallel to the jawline. This, in turn, is related to the position of the hyoid bone to which they attach.. Instead of being high and posterior under the angle of the jawbone, it is forward and low. Also, in some instances, fat may be present to further exaggerate the deformity.

The second class of patients are older and usually in their 40’s, 50’s or 60’s. With these patients we see excessive skin laxity coupled with fatty deposits. Lifestyle coupled with aging and genetics play the prominent roles here.

In both instances, a necklift can have a positive impact on the overall appearance of the face.

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Nostril Re-shaping Beverly Hills

One of the most difficult aspects of rhinoplasty is changing the shape of a nostril.. The main deformities that we see are the following:

1-      The nostril is too wide or flared, with the long axis in a horizontal rather than a vertical direction.

2-      The nostril is too narrow.

3-      There is a notch or retraction along the superior border.

4-      There is an overhang of tissue along the superior border

There are several approaches to each of these deformities, and these are usually performed at the conclusion of the operation..

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Ethnic Rhinoplasty Beverly Hills

Working in Beverly Hills has given me the opportunity of operating on patients with various ethnicities. Though the majority of my patients are Caucasian, I still treat many who are Latino, African and Asian.

In most instances, their desire is to have features that more closely resemble the Western European ideals. However, one must be careful to preserve elements of the patient’s heritage so as to avoid a possible disharmony with the remaining features when performing a rhinoplasty surgery.

In general, one must approach each patient individually so as to determine how much of a change they desire. In the African and Asian patients, and to a lesser degree the Latino patients, the bridge usually needs to be augmented. This is most commonly accomplished using nasal septal, ear or rib cartilage which is diced and placed within a rolled covering of fascia taken from the temple. Although, in rare instances, a synthetic material like Gore-tex may be used. Also, because the skin in each of these ethnicities is usually thick, the nasal tip needs augmenting to produce a more projected, angular appearance. Once again, cartilage is used, in the form of a rigid strut placed between the nostrils. And finally, the nostrils have to be addressed. Though projecting the nasal tip may bring the nostrils in slightly, an additional procedure such as excising tissue or narrowing with cinching sutures may be needed.

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Beverly Hills Reconstructive Rhinoplasty

In contrast to the more common cosmetic rhinoplasty , which aims to improve the appearance of one’s nose, the reconstructive rhinoplasty attempts to restore it to a more normal or natural appearance.

 It is a procedure which usually follows severe nasal trauma or surgery for nasal cancer. The aim of such surgery is to establish a nose which will appear relatively normal and not draw attention to itself. In many instances, the final product does not resemble the nose the patient had prior to his trauma or cancer surgery. However, most patients are accepting of this rather than be self-conscious with a severe deformity in the middle of their face.

The surgery aims to establish the appearance of a normal nose with normal airways. To this end, the underlying structures need not resemble the normal anatomy as long as the external appearance of the nose appears normal. Cartilaginous and ,occasionally, bony grafts are placed for support and form with external coverage using free grafts and/or flaps.

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Enhancement of the Eyes and Eyebrows

The eyes are the first feature we see when we meet someone, and there is much to be learned from them. We can think that the person is tired, evasive, dishonest, energetic, sad, intense or even captivating just by looking into their eyes. So it is to one’s advantage to have good-looking eyes.

To this end, we like to see smooth skin without wrinkles or puffiness for both the upper and lower eyelids. There should be a crisp crease between the upper eyelashes and eyebrow, and the eyebrow should have a nice smooth arch about ½  inch above the bony rim. Obviously, allergies or any other inflammatory condition that affects the whites of the eyes would detract from an otherwise positive impression and should be corrected.

Generally, we like the outside corner of the eye to be slightly higher than the inside corner. The highpoint of the brow arch is most pleasing if it is somewhere between this outside corner and the iris or colored portion of the eye. Also, the eyebrow should start and end at the same horizontal level. We also like to see the distance between the two eyes approximately equal to one eye width.

Though many of us are born with naturally beautiful eyes, much can be accomplished with the appropriate use of make-up and the appropriate surgical procedure(s), if indicated.

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Beverly Hills Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

The term “rhinoplasty” comes from Greek terminology. “Rhino” means “nose” and “plasty” means “to change”. Though most approaches to accomplish this end are surgical, there are some instances where a quicker, non-surgical method can be employed. The use of Radiesse is one such approach. Radiesse is a cosmetic dermal filler made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in a natural gel. It can be injected to create a bridge, lessen the prominence of a bump, fill in dents and depressions, help improve slight asymmetries and improve the angularity and aesthetics of the nasal tip. It lasts approximately 12-18 months and is performed while the patient is totally awake, which allows the patient   some input as the procedure is progressing.

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Lip Augmentation

The topic of lip enhancement is very popular these days, especially in Beverly Hills and Hollywood. As a quick review of the various options available, I would like to separate them into surgical and non-surgical. In the non-surgical category, we have Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane which are naturally occurring substances (hyaluronic acid) that exist between the cells of your body. Also, there is fat, which requires minor liposuction surgery to obtain but no surgery to place. All of these fillers are placed via a syringe and needle and eventually disappear over several months. However, there may be some percentage of persistence with fat transfer. I do not use permanent fillers like Artefil or liquid silicone in the lips (or elsewhere) because I think they produce an unsusal “foamy” appearance in the lips, especially on animation. Also, because they depend on the formation of tissue reaction to produce the volume, there may be some asymmetries. Regarding surgical alternatives, the primary method that I use is mucosal advancement flaps from inside the mouth (V to Y advancements). This usually also requires fat as a spacer    after the flaps are advanced. I also perform liplifts which shorten an elongated “white” lip and can pull up the “red” lip, if it is so desired. The final technique which I use in rare instances is direct excision of tissue around the red lip with mucosal advancement. This procedure is great for designing a new shape for the lips. However, it does leave a fine scar around the lips which, if obvious, can be easily covered with lipstick. The use of Verafil lip implants is another technique which I used more frquently in the past but less so recently because of the occasional problem with symmetry, palpation and volume maintenance.

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What is Beauty in Beverly Hills?

What is that quality that makes heads turn and hearts quicken when a beautiful person comes into the room? We all know it when we see it. But explanations vary from one person to the next. We see examples of beauty in all its variety when we go to the movies or peruse many of the popular magazines. Much has been written about what constitutes beauty from Aristotle’s concept that it exists when all parts work together to Leonardo Da Vinci’s geometrical analysis. Though no one definition may totally pin down this elusive quality, it has been said, quite simply, that beauty is a reflection of proportion and symmetry. The argment for this definition is that proportion and symmetry suggest a healthier human being which is best for propagation of the species. Therefore, we are attracted to these qualities for a future mate. Though most of us have some degree of disproportion and asymmetry, features which go beyond subtle deviation can be detracting from our overall appearance. Luckily, through advances in cosmetic surgical techniques, as well as new implant and filler products, our facial features can be brought more in line with accepted Western aesthetics. Rhinoplasty or nasal restructuring, cheek or chin implantation, eyelid and brow lifts, fillers to the lips and cheeks are just some of the modern day methods of accomplishing these goals.

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Welcome to the Cosmetic Surgery Blog of Dr. Pincus

Welcome to the blog of Beverly Hills rhinoplasty and cosmetic surgery specialist Dr. Stephen Pincus.

Selecting a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon to improve your appearance is a difficult chore, whether you desire a facelift, rhinoplasty or any additional facial rejuvenation procedures.

In order to make the right decision, you need to feel comfortable knowing that your surgeon has the experience, technical ability, artistry, and compassion necessary to produce a successful result. Our mission is to present you with a clear picture of his commitment to excellence in the pursuit of surgical cosmetic enhancement.

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