Award-Winning Board Certified Plastic Surgery Surgeon
a less-is-more philosophy
We offer extensive medical procedures to outbound and inbound patients.
Becoming beautiful isn’t something you need to loudly tell the world.You can do a little now—and more in the future. I fully believe in faster recovery times and no telltale signs of surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. Founded in 1931, the Society represents 93% of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the U.S., and more than eight thousand plastic surgeons worldwide, making ASPS a global institution and leading authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
Just did the eye treatment Thermage here with Sue, and she is very professional and friendly, she made sure I was feeling ok along the way. And explained the after care in every detail. Excellent service! Will come back again.
Lesly N.
6/12/2019 – Yelp
Second time coming to Dr. Yu's. I was amazed my first appointment because there was hardly any pain. Dr. Yu explained how his precision in avoiding hitting any nerves in the lips.
Daniela T.
7/15/2019 – Yelp
Update: I noticed the bump on my nose is back :/ I wonder what went wrong if voluma is supposed to last long
Emily L.
6/04/2019 – Yelp
I came in for a Slim Face injection and I fell in love with Premier. I've been to a couple of different offices for similar treatments but my experience at Premier Cosmetic Surgery was by far the best. My consultant Echo patiently listened to my concerns and previous experiences. She…READ MOREI came in for a Slim Face injection and I fell in love with Premier. I've been to a couple of different offices for similar treatments but my experience at Premier Cosmetic Surgery was by far the best. My consultant Echo patiently listened to my concerns and previous experiences. She then thoroughly explained the differences between each toxin and the dosages, along with her recommendation. I am SO happy I listened to her! I first noticed a difference around 3-4 weeks. It has now been 2 months and my results are amazing! I am extremely satisfied with my visit!READ LESS
Kim T.
10/25/2018 – Yelp
First and foremost, thank you to former SGV CM Hillary S. for putting together this fantastic YEE in November 2017. I had a fabulous time! Best of all, a couple of us lucky Elites either won a complimentary facial or one small area coolsculpting treatment, yay! Both my Yelp Buddy…READ MOREFirst and foremost, thank you to former SGV CM Hillary S. for putting together this fantastic YEE in November 2017. I had a fabulous time! Best of all, a couple of us lucky Elites either won a complimentary facial or one small area coolsculpting treatment, yay! Both my Yelp Buddy Maylene D. and I each won one small area coolsculpting treatment, double yay!!!
Super, super thanks to Premier Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa for their kindness, service (appointment booking with Edison and Echo) and fantastic coolsculpting consultation and treatment session (Kat & Monica). You Guys, ROCK!!!
Maylene and I both did ours in September, just a weekend apart. Maylene did hers first so that I can see how her treatment works, and surprisingly, the coolsculpting treatment went pretty good for her. Now, it's my turn!
Side Note: You'll see some pictures of hers and mines as to how the process works because it's difficult taking certain pictures from an upside-down angle. Here are the steps:
1. Paperwork & Consultation: After checking in and filling out a small questionnaire, I met up with Kat, who did my consultation as well as Maylene's. Kat is a doll to work with! During the consultation, Kat offered two options to the complimentary one small area coolsculpting:
A. Since they only offered one small area, I could get a discount for the other half (should I choose to do my underarms or calves), or B. Complimentary upgrade to a larger area (such as back fat or abdominal area). Of course, I picked the latter (valued at $1,200.00), lol! I wanted to see for sure if the coolsculpting treatment was the real deal, and so my tummy would be the true test!
2. After my consultation was done, I changed into a hospital gown and Echo took some "Before" pictures. Both Kat and Monica (Maylene and mine's Coolsculpting Technician) had mentioned that the process takes about 4 weeks to really see any progress because the fat breaks down slowly. Furthermore, it takes another 1-2 sessions to fully see the results.
3. Coolsculpting time with Monica. She is fantastic to work with! love that she's so kind, patience, and slowly guides you through the process so that you don't feel nervous or uncomfortable. First, she measured the fat area of my abdominal (above the belly button) to where the machine will freeze the fat. Next, she applied this Cool Max Gel cloth over my tummy, and afterwards, she put the fat freezing vacuum over it. Yes, you will definitely feel an uncomfortable pinch for the first 10mins. Lastly, Monica will put a huge pillow under the machine to help you hold it up and cover you with comfy blankets to keep you warm while you're going through this process for 60mins. Monica and Kat also checked up on me in between sessions too. If you're doing this solo, either bring a book or charge up your phone to keep you busy. However, if you're lucky to have someone in the room with you (thanks for accompanying me, Maylene!) the time goes by really quick!
Side Note: For females, Monica recommends doing this when you're not on your period. Otherwise, if you're prone to cramps, it's going to hurt like hell even more, and since you'll be laying there for 60mins, you're going to feel even more uncomfortable. I listened to Monica and rescheduled my appointment, and man, I was so glad that I did!
4. Once I was done, Monica comes back into the room to remove the machine and Cool Max Gel off. She also massaged my belly for 5mins to even it out since it looked puffy from the machine freezing my fat, lol! Did I bruise? Yes, I did.
5. Down time & post coolsculpting questions: Yes, after four weeks, you can do this treatment again (or wait til the holiday specials come up, especially, if you got to save up first). Is there any major downtime??? For the abdominal area, I was told to avoid the gym for 10 days because I'll be tender and sore. Other than that, after my session, I put my clothes on, jetted down to Old Town Monrovia and walked around the last hour with my Yelp Buddies trying to catch Eevee for the Pokemon Go! Community Day event. Was I tender and still bruised? Yes, especially, the next day. I was careful about bumping my stomach near anything and guarding it like I was pregnant, lol! Two weeks later? It was still tender and bruising started going down and I did see progress – my stomach was smoother (before, it looked like cottage cheese), and my clothes felt looser. Week three? At my blood testing, my doctor did notice that I looked like I lost weight, yass!
One month after: My spare tire isn't as huge as when I first started and so the coolsculpting treatment is working as long as I also keep up with a healthy diet and exercise until my next treatments.
Overall, yes, I do believe in the coolsculpting treatment. It's a slow and steady progress. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to doing it again (1-2 more sessions in), especially, with the holiday specials coming up. I'm a believer!!! Stay tuned!!!READ LESS
Kelly H.
6/15/2019 – Yelp
I came in for a laser consult, I saw Kat and she was very nice and answered all my question, made an apt to get a laser treatment and Dr. Yu was amazing and his assistant Jenn, I high recommend this place, it's nice, clean and everyone is very nice.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. Founded in 1931, the Society represents 93% of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the U.S., and more than eight thousand plastic surgeons worldwide, making ASPS a global institution and leading authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
Female sexual dysfunction is an extremely under-treated problem, considering the fact that up to 75% of all women never reach orgasm from intercourse (ABC News, Sep. 4th, 2009). Solid evidence shows that G-spot injection to thicken or augment the existing G-spot could heighten women’s sex drive and ability to climax in up to 87% of the cases. The G-spot is found inside the vagina, on the anterior aspect, about 2 cm behind the urethra. When you try to palpate it, the G-spot is a nickel to a quarter-sized, somewhat rougher and firmer, more sensitive area, slightly rising above the surrounding mucosa.
Various agents could be used for augmenting and sensitizing the G-spot, depending on a person’s choice. Fillers used are Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero, or Radiesse. Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) could also work well. And our doctor’s favorite choice is self nano fat injection mixed with PRP. The procedure can be done under strictly topical/local anesthesia. Immediately, the G-spot becomes more prominent and more sensitive. After a few days of resting, gratification is felt by most people. It alleviates painful intercourse, improves sex quality, and therefore, drive. In most cases, our patients feel that it is much easier to achieve orgasm, especially with the nano fat grafting/injection. Because we did notice a higher satisfaction rate among this group of patients, with many of them reporting multiple orgasms during one session of intercourse.
While most of the breast augmentations in the US remain implant surgeries, fat grafting for breast augmentation is increasingly becoming more and more popular on a yearly basis, for its more natural appearance and feel and, for its maintenance-free nature.
Our doctor prefers to suggest to our patients to have their own fat grafting for breast augmentation. His philosophy is that there is no waste material in the human body. If there is excess fat in your body, that fat could be liposuctioned out to create a better-shaped body, and at the same time, the harvested fat should be used for augmentation of the breasts or the buttocks. Depending on the fat distribution in a particular person, fat could be harvested from the tummy, waist, the back, thighs, or the upper arms. There is essentially no difference in the survival rate for the fat from different sites. Generally, the fat survival rate in the breast could be as high as 60 to 70%, unless the fat is unhealthy. The only rate-limiting factor for fat grafting is that only 250 cc to 400 cc of fat could be grafted to each breast, due to the fact that breasts could only provide enough nutrition to sustain a certain amount of grafted fat. Please keep in mind that one cup size for the breast equals to about 150 to 250 cc, depending on the size of the body frame. Breast fat grafting results not only depend on the amount of fat survived but also depend on how the new breasts are shaped. For younger patients, our doctor emphasizes on the augmenting the cone part of the breasts; while for more mature people, he would try to clean up the breast tails in the axilla region to re-form the outer round contours of the breasts and then the upper pole along with the cones are strategically filled up show the perky beauty again for the somewhat more droopy breasts. By choosing the right ports for grafting, the breast fat grafting by our doctor shows very little trauma and minimal calcification post-surgery. Due to the very high survival rate for our breast fat grafting, this procedure has been one of the most requested among our offerings.
Breast implant surgery utilizes saline or silicone implants. The entry route could be from peri-areolar, infra-mammary, transaxillary, or through the belly button (transumbilical). Even fancier, if a tummy tuck is done concomitantly, the breast implants could even be placed through the tummy tuck opening, thus avoiding any visible sign of an incision wound for the augmentation. The most frequently performed incision point is the inframammary fold, where the entry avoids the mammary glands, which minimizes the exposure of the implants to the potentially contaminating mammary glands that could harbor annoying bacteria (less capsular contracture/breast hardening). The peri-areolar approach seems to provide more direct access to the pocket for housing the implants; it does have to pass the potentially contaminating breast glands. Transaxillary approach hides the scars in the armpits and at times, they are almost invisible, but it is the dirtiest entry point, which also generates the highest rate for capsular contracture. Statistically, with all the entry points combined, capsular contracture and accompanying asymmetry remain as high as 12 to 19 percent, or even higher, nationwide. So essentially, breast implant surgery is, at the present time, still an imperfect surgery. Although it could still be a great choice for people who desire larger breasts without any available fat, or for people who just want to have one surgery done to gain more than two cup sizes for their breasts. Indeed, with the teardrop shaped breasts, we do see a surge in the number of better-looking breast implant surgery results. The possible complications are mostly listed in the relevant manufacturers’ websites, and the potential risks of the requirement for redo surgery after four years could still be as high as more than 35%. We do make every potential patient aware of all the benefits, risks, and alternatives about the implant surgeries. Our doctor does his breast implant surgery very conservatively and utilizes all possible means to prevent the contact of implants with the skin or any other contamination sites in order to reduce the chance of capsular contracture. Consequently, the satisfactory rate from our breast surgery cases is quite high.
Breast augmentation with either fat grafting or implants could also be combined with breast lift procedures if the breasts are too droopy. In cases of significant breast size discrepancy, or breasts with weird shapes (such as constricted breasts or tuberous breasts), or breasts being mangled up by either cancer surgeries or improperly performed breast implant removal, fat grafting is without a doubt the procedure of choice for restoring the shape of the breasts.
We do many revisional breast surgeries, for those who had bad results from around the world. The failure could be malpositioned implants, size disparity, capsular contracture, gross asymmetry, significant scarring, or areolar depressions, so on and so forth. One major breakthrough is the use of Alloderm for capsular contracture, which is already showing signs of being the perfect solution for breast hardening. For issues such as breast implant rippling, implants being palpable, funnel chest, lack of upper pole fullness, we can certainly use fat grafting to correct them in a nice and easy way.
Nasolabial Fold
Nasolabial fold is grafted with both fine and coarse fat. There is no need to worry about over filling this area, due to the fact that not much fat could survive in this highly mobile region.
SNIF, Micro Fat, and NANO Fat
Over the past few years, science has pushed fat grafting much further. Now we have in place a series of SNIF (sharp needle intradermal fat grafting) procedures that could utilize fine needles for the delivery of stem cell-rich micronized fat just under the skin. These SNIFs include Micro fat, which could be delivered using a 27 (0.3mm, the size for filler injection) gauge needle, and NANO fat, using a 30 gauge (0.2mm, the size for Botox injection ) needle. Now, this is revolutionary, because no knife cutting is necessary, neither is a traditional fat grafting cannula required. Because the tiny needles used are so small, the needle marks typically disappear in a mere few days!
While the micro fat is great for treating medium to fine wrinkles, adding a very modest amount of volume, the NANO fat if perfect for fine lines/wrinkles, especially around the mouth, the eye regions, and the necklines. More importantly, good use of NANO fat, which contains more active stem cells, could be utilized to rejuvenate the skin, from any area of the face, the dark circles, the lips, the neck the decolletage, the breast skin itself, the knee, the forearm, and the hands and fingers! Rest assured, the making of the micro fat and NANO fat is purely mechanical, employing a series of emulsifier and laser-etched sharp filters. No chemicals or additives are involved. It is very safe to say that with the availability of micro fat and nano fat, regenerative medicine using self tissue is finally realized.
To make the SNIF more effective, we use a Multi-needle mesotherapy gun with an industry-leading fortified vacuum holding device for the delivery of nano fat, which makes it much easier, more efficient and more comfortable for the treatment of larger areas.
Vaginal fat grafting (vaginal rejuvenation)
In trast to the above G-spot injections, vaginal fat grafting refers to fat grafting to the whole tunnel, from the entry point to the back part of the vagina. it can be used to successfully treat bladder leakage (such as postpartum urinary incontinence), dryness, decresed sex drive, incabable of climax, pain from old episiotomy scar, dyspareunia, or postpartum laxity changes as a result of over stretching with loss of tone.
The fat used is a combination of microfat and nanofat, mixing with PRP, for a much better survival of the fat graft. The surgery is done with a tiny blunt needle, under local anesthesia. And the total amount of fat grafted amounts to 20 to 40 ml in volume. Of course, the G-spot shot is included. It is carried out in our Joint Commission Certified OR Room. And the down time is minimal. For best results, patients are encouraged to refrain from having sex for about ten days.
Dr. Yu has been doing vaginal fat grafting since 2009. His patients report much more sensitivity, better lubrication, improved sexual desire and much easier to achieve orgasms. Additionally, spousal satisfaction is extremely high, for they also feel much better genital match. Bladder leakage is also much improved in most patients.
Face Fat Grafting
Fat grafting was invented almost a hundred years ago, but it is about 25 years ago that it began to be accepted by the plastic surgery society, through the effort of Dr. Sydney Coleman, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon based in New York City. Despite the steady progress made by Dr. Coleman, the fat grafting techniques did not start to spread to the world until about 10 years ago, when it started to go viral.
Face fat grafting is essentially sculpturing of the face with a material more difficult to handle than those used by artists. To the least, it is safe to say that not all licensed doctors are good sculptors. This is similar to the situation where if you ask one hundred random painters to sculpt a statue, no more than five would be able to come up with worthy final products. In other words, if you want to have a good facial sculpturing result by fat grafting, you better find a great artist, for even minor mistakes might damage the final result, turning an art work into a disaster. And here we are talking about your face… From prepping the patients, to the final fat grafting, there are more than ten steps that could create caveats. Dr. Yu utilizes harvested fat (from tummy, thighs and any other parts where fat is abundant) with minimal trauma using specialized instruments. Dr. Yu divides fat into coarse fat, fine fat, LipoGems fat and Nano fat, and different fat is utilized in different anatomical areas for different purposes. To warrant great, stable results, even his OR technicians are almost always the same person, specifically trained for the procedure.
SNIF, Micro fat, and NANO fat Over the past few years, science has pushed fat grafting much further. Now we have in place a series of SNIF (sharp needle intradermal fat grafting) procedures that could utilize fine needles for the delivery of stem cell-rich micronized fat just under the skin. These SNIFs include Micro fat, which could be delivered using a 27 (0.3mm, the size for filler injection) gauge needle, and NANO fat, using a 30 gauge (0.2mm, the size for Botox injection ) needle. Now, this is revolutionary, because no knife cutting is necessary, neither is a traditional fat grafting cannula required. Because the tiny needles used are so small, the needle marks typically disappear in a mere few days!
While the micro fat is great for treating medium to fine wrinkles, adding a very modest amount of volume, the NANO fat if perfect for fine lines/wrinkles, especially around the mouth, the eye regions, and the necklines. More importantly, good use of NANO fat, which contains more active stem cells, could be utilized to rejuvenate the skin, from any area of the face, the dark circles, the lips, the neck the decolletage, the breast skin itself, the knee, the forearm, and the hands and fingers! Rest assured, the making of the micro fat and NANO fat is purely mechanical, employing a series of emulsifier and laser-etched sharp filters. No chemicals or additives are involved. It is very safe to say that with the availability of micro fat and nano fat, regenerative medicine using self tissue is finally realized.
To make the SNIF more effective, we use a Multi-needle mesotherapy gun with an industry-leading fortified vacuum holding device for the delivery of nano fat, which makes it much easier, more efficient and more comfortable for the treatment of larger areas.
Abdomen Liposuction
Abdominal liposuction is probably the most challenging of all the liposuctions, considering the fact that there are so many naturally existing aesthetic marks such as “six-pack,” “corset lines,” “midline groove in the upper abdomen,” the belly button, and the “groin lines.” A great plastic surgeon could almost always liposuction a fat tummy into something very aesthetically pleasing, showing the natural aesthetic/anatomical marks that reflect the natural tension points of the underlying abdominal muscles. Our MicroAire Power-assisted liposuction device certain contributes to the success rate for achieving great results. For people with loose skin due to overweight, pregnancy, or weight loss, SmartLipo could prove to be a great addition for further improvement.
Rib Cartilage Nose Job
Due to its abundance, rib cartilages could be utilized to correct both nose bridge insufficiency and the tip/columella complex. Although at this point of time, the revision rate remains high.
Columela veiling/columella show is very easy to correct, provided that the surgeon knows how to correct it. Our doctor utilizes an extremely minimally invasive approach to augment the columella, for either its thickness or its vertical supporting strength, mostly via an intra-oral approach. The result is virtually no visible scar from anywhere and the recovery is super-fast!
Canine fossa depression (base of the nose deficiency/depression) can be treated with fat grafting if minor, or with self-cartilage grafting and or Alloderm if moderate to severe. A combination of all three approaches could be used for even better and much more coordinated aesthetic correction.
Nasal alar reduction works to shrink the size of the nostrils. Dr. Yu uses an internal approach, by making incisions at the lateral aspect of the nasal sill to remove a wedge of tissues, including the corresponding nasal floor. After the mucosa is trimmed, the floor tissue can actually be turned down to augment the canine fossa (base of nose) right then and there. At the same time, the nasal alar is brought in to cinch down on the size of the nostril. The recovery is fast and the scars are barely detectable.
Summit of the Cervin
The skin is lifted and smoothed. The face volumes appear sculpted and plumped.
Detailed description of the treatment
With this resolutely lifting and firming expert treatment, Valmont showcases its technical expertise in 5 steps, as a tribute to the 5th highest peak in the Swiss Alps.
It all starts by carefully removing makeup thanks to a technique exclusive to Valmont: The Butterfly Motion (an original Valmont innovation). Standing beside the client the beautician carefully eliminates every trace of makeup and all impurities using Valmont’s flagship cleansing products, FLUID FALLS and VITAL FALLS.
She then performs a mechanical exfoliation enriched with Vitamin C to revitalize the skin without straining skin tissues.
At this point, the treatment reaches its climax through supremely effective lifting and sculpting motions enhanced by the potency of PRIME RENEWING PACK and V-SHAPE FILLING CONCENTRATE. For a guaranteed WOW effect!
Now the REGENERATING MASK TREATMENT makes its entrance! Made from pure native collagen, this mask re-plumps the tissues while redefining the contours of the face.
As a final touch, the SUPER HELIX treatment, featuring snail slime and products from the AWF5 line, infuses antiaging and anti-wrinkle compounds into the skin to treat all areas marked by the passage of time. Available in two versions – 75-minute complete and 90-minute intensive, Summit of the Cervin unveils lastingly smoothed and firm skin… simply exuberant with youth!
Brightness of Ice
The complexion is even, radiant and glowing. Age spots have faded and the texture of the skin is refined.
Detailed description of the treatment
An original Valmont creation, the Brightness of Ice treatment is dedicated to restoring youthful purity and freshness to the complexion. With this exclusive professional treatment, Valmont offers the perfect solution for gently awakening a bright and even completion. It also improves the texture of the skin while providing comprehensive anti-aging action.
Inspired by Asian care habits, this treatment doubles each step to create entirely new synergies between the gesture and the product. Twice the cleansing, twice the massage, twice the mask… a state-of-the-art program for a complexion as clear as ice. Sparkling Ice is especially recommended for women looking to combat pigmentation disorders; its delicate touch makes it ideal for even the most sensitive skins.
This professional treatment uses products from the Expert of Light line, along with exclusive product associations, to give the skin a youthful glow. If performed regularly, it offers an intense clarifying effect. If used from time to time, it allows the skin to regain its original luster. The treatment is available in two versions – 75-minute complete and 90-minute intensive.
Vitality of the Glaciers
The treatment at a glance
The skin is regenerated, radiant and firmer. A vital treatment for overstrained, lifeless skin.
Detailed description of the treatment
The first of the Valmont treatments, Vitality of the Glaciers quickly became an icon. It has accompanied the brand since 1985 and reflects the technical prowess of the Swiss anti-aging expert. A beauty booster, this cabin treatment stimulates the skin’s energy and cell renewal – both of which diminish over time. After the treatment, the complexion is once again fresh and radiant, features are relaxed, and the skin has never been fuller.
The treatment begins with a careful cleansing with exclusive Valmont gestures. Positioned on the side, the beautician then uses the butterfly motion to thoroughly rid the skin of all traces of makeup and impurities with Fluid Falls and Vital Falls, Valmont’s star cleansers. A gentle yet deep exfoliation follows, removing dead cells that dull the complexion. Applied in delicate movements that avoid tissue strain, Face Scrub revitalizes the skin.
The treatment continues with a modeling using the iconic Prime Renewing Pack. Alternating smoothing, effleurage and acupressure techniques enhance the effectiveness of the product’s active ingredients. Erasing fatigue, this massage leaves the skin looking well rested…like a good night’s sleep! It reactivates all the biological processes for a long-lasting effect. Regenerating Mask Treatment then demonstrates Valmont’s technical supremacy. This 99.9% pure native collagen mask plumps the tissues and redefines the contours of the face – a biological facelift!
In the intensive version of the treatment, the client enjoys a regenerating and revitalizing cure: Cellular Complex Vitality. As a final touch, products from the Prime Generation line fill the skin with anti-aging and anti-wrinkle ingredients to treat areas that bear the signs of time.
Available in two versions – 75-minute complete and 90-minute intensive, Vitality of the Glaciers is suitable for all skin types and is especially recommended for city dwellers for its oxygenating and detoxifying action.
IPL Laser Treatment
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It’s a type of light therapy used to treat wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair.
You can use IPL to minimize or remove:
Age Spots
Sun Damage
Freckles
Birthmarks
Varicose Veins
Broken blood vessels on your face
Rosacea
The hair on your face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line
IPL is similar to laser treatment. However, a laser focuses just one wavelength of light at your skin, while IPL releases the light of many different wavelengths, like a photo flash. The light from IPL is more scattered and less focused than a laser. IPL penetrates down to the second layer of your skin (dermis) without harming the top layer (epidermis), so it causes less damage to your skin.
Pigment cells in your skin absorb the light energy, which is converted into heat. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment to clear up freckles and other spots. Or, it destroys the hair follicle to prevent the hair from growing again.
You can use IPL anywhere on your body, but it may not work as well on uneven areas. It isn’t recommended for people who tend to get thick, raised keloid scars or who have darker skin tones.
Pearl Laser
Pearl Fractional, or Fraxel lasers, are a new, volumizing fractional laser perfected for treating photo damaged skin with just one treatment. Pearl Fractional offers the best combination of patient experience and recovery time. Patients see improvement in brown spots, sun damage, tone and texture and have a noticeably smoother, brighter complexion.
What does “fractional” mean, and how does the Pearl Fractional Laser Treatment work? Fraxel laser therapy describes a treatment that exposes only a fraction of the skin to the laser beam in a pattern of tiny dots. With the Pearl Fractional Laser, tiny holes are made in the skin. These holes enable safe treatment and rapid recovery. Controlled energy means maximum results with more comfortable patient experience. Columns of damaged tissue are selectively removed, leaving surrounding skin intact.
This treatment shortens healing time and stimulates the body’s own natural process for creating new collagen, plumping the skin from below and reversing photo-aging and other imperfections.
With a deep treatment, results can be seen in a single session.
Liposuction (Body Sculpturing)
Liposuction is one of the top performed procedures in aesthetic surgery. Successful liposuction is dependent on 1) a good surgeon; 2) good instruments; 3) a good understanding of human body aesthetics.
Quite a few doctors claim to be able to do liposuctions; however, not too many know how to do it properly. With the insurance companies paying less and less for regular medical treatments, doctors of many different specialties jump in to make a living on liposuction, a specialty they were never trained on, or only trained for a few hours. These doctors may be a family doctor, an internal medicine doctor, a gynecologist, an anesthesiologist, or even an emergency room doctor. Naturally, it would be prudent to find out who your doctor is first before you make a commitment to a body beautifying procedure. Or else, regret is almost always guaranteed. A board-certified plastic surgeon requires a minimum of 6 to 7 years of formal plastic surgery training and then certified after a series of rigorous examinations. To find out whether your doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon, it is extremely useful to find it from the medical board of your local state.
As far as instrumentation, liposuction can be done with manual liposuction; water-jet assisted liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction or power-assisted liposuction. While manual liposuction is the many stays of technique for performing liposuction, it is by no means a technique of precision, due to the fact that the surgeon cannot control the tip of the liposuction cannula precisely. Water assisted liposuction was becoming a hot item for a few years, but more and more doctors are recognizing the drawbacks of this technique: low yield and more trauma (due to the fact that only thicker cannulas can be used, in order to harbor an internal numbing fluid tubing). Furthermore, the promise that water jet stream could flush fat clumps out of the intact human tissue is a dream that could never be realized. Not to mention that in the end, this technique remains a variant of manual liposuction, hence lack of precision. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction offers a different way to pretreat the fat tissue by emulsifying the fat first for easier removal, however, it does generate possibilities of tissue burn injuries and possible additional injuries resulting in unwanted scarring. A comprehensive study shows that power-assisted liposuction circumvents most of the problems listed above. The power-assisted device we use is MicroAire power-assisted device when being in use, the tip of the cannula oscillates more than 300 times a minute, mimicking the surgeon’s manual movement, freeing the surgeon from doing fast thrusting movements. Consequently, the tip of the cannula could be placed within millimeters of the target area, instead of centimeters, raising the precision by at least ten folds. Because a much smaller cannula is used during the liposuction, the entry ports are much smaller (much smaller scars), and, much less trauma is caused to the nerves and the blood vessels. More importantly, the liposuction is much more efficient in terms of the amount of fat removal and being able to chew through tough and fibrous fat tissues, making a dramatic body makeover a routine possibility, and precision body sculpturing a reality!
For safety reasons, our doctor never needs to put a patient under general anesthesia for liposuction, thus avoiding the high incidence of venous thrombosis. As a matter of fact, most of the liposuctions done by our doctor is done under local anesthesia. And if you are nervous, a little oral sedative with low dose diazepam is all that is required. This greatly enhances our safety records for the procedures. Additionally, because our facility has its own Joint Commission Certified Operating Room, safety is even better guaranteed.
Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat pads function as the ball bearing between the buccinators and the masseteric muscles. With aging, buccal fat may begin to migrate anteriorly in some people, causing a wider and fatter look in the frontal view. With time, the SMAS fascia overlying the fat pad becomes thin, and the fat pads become more and more prominent. If at any point in time, you think that your face is becoming wider at the mid-lower face, it is most likely that buccal fat is to blame.
While most surgeons remove the buccal fat by make a long incision on the oral mucosa along with the lower teeth, our doctor does each and every one of his buccal removals with a tiny incision at the oral mucosa corresponding the second lower molar. The fat is about half a golf ball in size, but our doctor can gently tease the fat out through the small opening, drastically reduce the trauma from the surgery. That explains why almost every one of our patients requires almost no recovery time!
Baby Fat, Jowling and Under Chin Fat Accumulation
Baby fat is characterized by fat accumulating in the lower face from the chin/jowl junction to the jaw angle. It exists since childhood. Characteristically, the baby usually co-exists with excessive fat existence in the under chin area, causing a chubby look. The treatment is extra-fine precision liposuction with flat-headed cannulas.
Jowling typically shows after the age of 35, more in the females, with accompanying jaw bone absorption. There is more fat in the front portion of the lower face, stopping at the chin/jowl junction (sulcus). It is a sign of aging. Therefore, many people seek help from a plastic surgeon to have it removed. For people with tighter and more elastic skin, simple precision liposuction is the only treatment required. Although Ultherapy or Thermage could be good accessory treatments, on the other hand, when the skin is loose, a mini-facelift might be a necessity after liposuction is performed, to offset the resulting excess skin that cannot be retracted by itself.
Under the chin, fat could exist in any age, and the treatment is, most of the time, liposuction. The obtuse angle at the neck will be greatly improved when the fat is removed. Interestingly, after liposuction, the neck skin is almost always tighter, because the newly formed right-angle structure at the neck requires more skin to drape the newly formed surfaces (Pythagorean Theorem).
Brow lift
Classic beauty concept dictates that the brows need to be in the correct positions. While the brows in males need to sit right on top of the brow ridges for a perfect Alpha male look, the brows in females need to be 1 to 2 cm (depending on the trend) above the brow ridges to make the eyes look attractive. With aging, the brows will descend, creating hooding above the eyes, giving the eyes droopy looks.
Brow lift surgeries were created to correct these aging problems.
Traditional brow lift (coronal approach) utilizes an incision one to two inches behind the hairline. After the skin flap is elevated, the brows are fixated in a higher position. Typically, the brows can be elevated about 1/2 cm to 1.5 cm this way. The benefit of this procedure is that the result is sure and the fixation more permanent. As a result, it is very often provided to people with very significant droopy brows. The drawback is that it cannot be done on people with a receding hairline because the hairline will drop back by 2 to 3 cm. To avoid this issue, Hairline Brow Lift was designed.
Hairline brow lift employs an incision along the hairline in the middle portion. When the brows are elevated, the hairline is actually lowered by 2 to 3 cm, making this procedure a favorite to the people with receding hairlines. Because after the surgery, the person not only has corrected brow position but also have a more normal hairline. Since the incisions are made in a zig-zag way, the scars are almost invisible to the naked eyes. Furthermore, because the very original hairline shape and hairs are preserved, the new hairline is much more natural than that created by hair transplantation!
The direct brow lift is usually done in more senior people, i.e., for the people with deep wrinkles on the forehead. The incision could be made in the middle of the forehead, right in the furrows of the forehead; or just above the brow hairs. Because the incisions are closer to the brows, the lifting is more efficient. The drawback is, of course, the scars being more visible. Many people choose to have the scars tattooed over to create new brows. If done right, this combination works quite well. Due to the much lighter nature of the surgical trauma, this procedure is quite popular among certain groups of people.
The endoscopic Brow lift is done via 2 or 3 small incisions in the hair. In the right hands, this procedure works quite well, and it can typically provide 0.5 to 1 cm lift to the brows, although the longevity of the result could be an issue. Additionally, it may also make the already hollowed-out upper eye socket even more hollow, and the deflated brow ridges flatter and more skeletonized. Consequently, these and the much smaller lifting effect make this a less favorable procedure than our fat grafting to the brow ridges or our most recent innovation: internal brow lift.
Brow ridge fat grafting has been our main staple to provide to our patients with minimal to moderate droopy brows. And this goes quite well with the new trend of brow position, shape and volume. If you step into a department store, especially the higher-end stores, you would notice right away that all the cosmetic counters are sporting attractive models with lower-lying, less peaking but very full eyebrows. The new concept of aging found that all people show signs of aging typified by the deflated forehead, brows, and temples, making the forehead having more horizontal wrinkles and the brows more easily to drop down, and the eye socket more sunken in. By using autologous (self) fat to graft into the forehead, temple, and brow ridges (to replace the deflated and disappearing brow fat pads that only exists in young people), the brows becomes naturally inflated back into their original, younger shapes and forms, resulting in a lifted look much better and much more natural than that created by the endoscopic approach, without any of the potential complications. Our Award-Winning Board Certified Plastic Surgeon has more than 19 years of experience in fat grafting. This makes our doctor a great choice when it comes to choosing the right doctor to rejuvenate your looks, especially around the eyes.
Internal brow lift by our doctor is accomplished by lifting the orbicularis (eyelid) muscles and fixing it onto the bone membrane of the brow ridges, creating a silhouette holding up the already dropped eyelid muscles, deflated brow fat pads and the upper eyelid skin, making the brows naturally fuller and lifted again, and therefore, restores the attractiveness of youthful eyes. The surgery is accomplished within a few minutes, and the result extremely natural. Furthermore, none of the dreadful complications of the traditional or endoscopic brow lift is associated with this procedure, and the recovery is rapid. Consequently, this method of brow lift is our patients’ top pick!
Neck Lift
While most neck lift surgeries are done together with facelifts, a neck lift can be performed independently, especially for younger people with prominent turkey necks. The essence of a neck lift is to tighten the loose and separated platysma muscle sheets back onto the area just in front of the windpipe, with rearrangement of the side portion of the platysma and neck skin behind the ears.
While most of the neck lift is done the traditional way, i.e., with incisions in front, around, and then behind the ears, some younger people can have the neck lift done with just a minor incision under the chin to obtain a great result. The patient will need to consult our doctor in person to find out whether he or she is a good candidate for this minimally invasive neck lift.
Furthermore, some people might just have a large lump of fat under the chin, presenting as a fat turkey neck. In these people, the is a possibility that a minor liposuction in the under chin (under-chin, under chin) area might suffice. In some cases, the fat may be very stubborn for removal; our doctor will employ a special device called SmartLipo laser, utilizing a 1 mm thick glass fiber to safely burn away the fibrous fat to reclaim the neck contour, with very minimal trauma.
For people with minimal to modest turkey neckbands, it is possible to utilize Botox injection to soften the platysmal bands to regain the cervical-chin angle (neck-chin angle), because softened turkey neckbands will conform the original neckline again.
For people with enlarged and ptotic (low lying) submandibular glands, which can hardly be corrected by any surgical procedure, our doctor may use a botox injection approach to drastically diminish the glands, to restore the jawline.
The facelift is one of the most frequently performed procedures. it often refers to the lift of the lower face. Depending on the condition of the patients’ facial aging, a traditional facelift or formal facelift could be done for a person with more advanced skin aging. Or, if the aging is minimal to medium, a mini-facelift or our famous Z-lift could be performed. While a formal facelift could entail a recovery time of one to two months, a mini-facelift may only require a recovery time of one to three weeks. This latter benefit is one major factor for the mini-facelift to be our most sought after procedures by our Award-winning Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Arthur Yu.
Both formal facelift and mini-facelift involve removal of excess loose skin and tightening of the SMAS fascia that covers the more in-depth facial muscle groups, resulting in a much more youthful look after the surgery. In our doctor’s hands, the mini-facelift may achieve an equal or better result than the traditional/formal facelift. On the one hand, our doctor utilizes endoscopic approach to make the big formal facelift surgery much smaller, without skipping the most important SMAS tightening component of the surgery; on the other hand, because there is much less swelling and bruising involved, the mini-facelift patients will have much less wrinkling a few months after the patients recover. Therefore, more satisfactory results are expected.
Z-lift, our most in-demand procedure for an easy and minimally invasive facelift, is done with a hidden incision inside the hair. Being designed by Dr. Yu, this one-hour surgery is a much more updated variant of mini-facelift. It is done under local anesthesia. The patients experience almost no pain during the whole process. Because the same amount of SMASectomy/SMAS lift is done, the effect of the facelift equals that of the traditional facelift. Yet, due to the fact that much less dissection is needed, there is absolutely no risk of skin compromise or injury to the important facial nerves. More importantly, the patients recover in a matter of a few days. One patient, a high school teacher, was able to go back to her teaching post the next day! Even if this procedure is combined with other procedures, it is never a rate-limiting factor in terms of recovery time.
Traditional/formal facelift is characterized by an incision made in front of the ears, going around the earlobes, passing behind the ears and ends at the back hairlines. This makes the scars quite visible and hard to hide, even with carefully designed hairstyles. On the other hand, a min-facelift only requires an incision hidden inside the hair above the upper pole of the ears, making the scars almost impossible to detect.
Dark Circles (under eye)
Dark circles could be a very distractive and depressive feature on any person’s face. Deep tear troughs could cause it, under-eye pigmentation, dark-colored veins lying too superficial, bad lymphatic drainage, or iatrogenic reasons such as injection of a wrong filler in the tear troughs.
Tear troughs could be treated with either fat grafting using nano fat (extra-fine, rich in stem cells), or non-water absorbing fillers such as Restylane Silk or Restylane L. Radiess could be used in this area, but it requires the surgeon to be a master injector.
Under-eye pigmentation could be treated with a bleaching cream, coupled with ultrasound micro-exfoliation for better absorption of the medication.
The superficial lying veins could be a difficult issue. With our doctor’s judgment, nano fat grafting may be utilized in some cases to mask the appearance of the veins. Currently, there are no other ways of treating this condition.
Bad lymphatic drainage could be treated with outward massaging and limiting the intake of salt and MSG. Please do drink lots of water and sleep with head lifted!
Iatrogenic reasons could easily be avoided by choosing the right doctor and the right fillers. Many of the Juvederm products could cause excessive water absorption resulting in bluish discoloration (Tyndall effect) and swollen appearance in the under-eye area. Do make sure that only safe filler products are chosen for the tear trough region.
Asian Double Eyelid Surgery (Double crease surgery)
It well knows that 50% of the Asian population does not have crease formation on the upper eyelids (double creases), which makes the eyes appear much smaller and sometimes not so friendly. Hence, it is no wonder that double eyelid surgery ranks the highest among all the cosmetic surgery procedures in Asian countries.
Due to the complicated anatomical differences between Asians and Caucasian upper eyelids, it is imaginable that a plastic surgeon who is only trained in Caucasian upper eyelid surgery should be extra careful when deciding whether to perform double eyelid surgery. Asian double eyelid is not simple copying of the Caucasian eyelid creases. Rather, almost all the internal anatomical structures are different. Without knowing own limitations, a Western plastic surgeon could easily Caucasianize an Asian person’s upper eyelids, which could prove to be a disaster–wide creased eyelids housed in shallow eye sockets will not glorify an Asian’s appearance, it would only be rather destructive. Unfortunately, even in Asian countries, including Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, most plastic surgeons are trained with Western textbooks, not knowing how to deal with Asian eyelids. As a result, we see very often Westernization of Asian eyelids by Asian country doctors.
Contrary to Caucasian eyelids, Asian eyelid anatomy could vary widely from person to person. while some may have well-developed creases, others may have absolutely no crease, very little creases, or unstable creases. For the people who have creases, they may want to have the creases somewhat wider (but not to the Caucasian extreme). These different people will have the levator aponeurosis fibers inserted at the skin at completely different levels from or at the tarsal plate. Often times, people with single eyelid appearance also have levator aponeurosis being so poorly developed that they appear to have levator muscle weakness, resulting in very small eyes.
Then there is also the “Mongolian folds”(medial epicanthal folds), which most Asians have, but does not exist in normal Caucasians. Some people may wish to keep their ethnicity, while others may wish to have the Mongolian folds removed to make the eyes look even bigger.
Our doctor’s approach to Asian double eyelid surgery is most up to date as compared to other plastic surgeons. Your concerns will be heard and thoroughly discussed. During the consultation, the anatomy will be carefully analyzed to form a final treatment plan. The surgical markings will be made while the patient is in a sit-up position, and then confirmed again on the OR table. The width of the creases will be discussed again and again with the patient, so the patient’s desire is met. For a typical Asian female, the crease width is usually 5 to 6.5 mm, whereas, for the Asian male, it is usually 3 to 5 mm. All measurements made on the person will be reconfirmed on the photos to avoid any discrepancy.
Double eyelid surgery can be done using thee different approaches: suture method, window methods (partial incision), and open incisional method (full incision).
The suture method involves burying a very fine permanent suture to form the creases. it is a method that fits people with thin skin and no excess eyelid skin. The benefit is the surgical trauma being smaller. But the drawback is also obvious: very high failure rate at the one-year point. Additionally, some people may develop swelling that does not go away for years.
The partial incision method also fits people with thin skin. It is done one or two small incisions made on the desired crease position. The excess fat can be removed through the windows. At the same time, the capsule membrane is incised and pushed upward to expose the underlying levator aponeurosis, where the future will be placed to form the creases. A very important point here is that the creases formed this way are “dynamic live” and natural creases, instead of “fixed” or “dead” creases.
The full incision method works well for people with excess skin, or when it appears that there is a levator problem. The excess skin is removed, fat pads are either removed or repositioned, problem levator is repaired, and then the creases are created and fixed according to the design. Again, the crease formation done this way gives only natural creases. Both fat graftings to the brow ridges and the internal brow lift could be added to obtain even better results.
Because blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is so frequently done by unqualified surgeons, at least 30% of the people may need to have revisional surgery done to have their surgical defects corrected (failed Asian double eyelid surgery). And an essential part of the repair demands that the surgeon could restore the patients’ original anatomy and then go from there to perform the required repairing steps. Dr. Yu has a profound understanding of the Asian eyelid anatomy and knows the inside, and out of every single minute details as to what could go wrong when it comes to restructuring the damaged anatomies, he could be your best choice when it comes to repairing or reconstructing a person’s botched eyelid surgery.
For 19 years, our Award Winning Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Yu has been deeply involved in perfecting the surgical procedures for Asian double eyelids. After finishing his plastic surgery training at Mayo Clinic, he followed Dr. Robert Flowers, the then world-class master of Asian eyelid surgery. At the time, Dr. Flowers’ technique was without a doubt state of the art in the field of Asian double eyelid surgery. However, Dr. Yu did notice some major limitations and many grounds for improvement. Afterward, he spent the next ten years polishing his Asian double eyelid surgery techniques, which made him a true world master of Asian double eyelid surgery.
Lower Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty, Eye Bag Surgery)
When people age, the eye bags protrude out. With each passing year, the eye bags become bigger and bigger, causing the appearance of tiredness and lack of sleep. Very often, these are accompanied by dark circles and tear troughs. Simply put, there could be a huge difference for people of the same age with or without eye bags. Sometimes, a pair of eye bags could easily add up to ten years on a person’s face.
Eye bag surgery is such a common procedure that our doctor performs hundreds of these procedures a year. The types of procedures include transconjunctival and subsidiary approaches, with some additions and variations.
Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty (inner incision) is done when there is no significant amount of excess skin on the lower eyelids. An incision is made on the mucosa side of the lower eyelid with the lower eyelid being gently pulled away from the eyeball. There are three fat pads in a lower eyelid. Because of the complexity of the anatomy, it is very often that some surgeons would unintentionally leave behind one or two fat pads behind, causing weird bumpy looks after the surgery. Additionally, it is almost completely empirical when it comes to deciding how much fat to remove from a person. The deciding factors depend on a person’s age, skin elasticity, the density of the fat, the positioning of the eyeballs, and the severity of the tear troughs. Consequently, it becomes extremely important when it comes to choosing the right doctor for this seemingly easy procedure.
Subsidiary incision lower blepharoplasty (outside incision) is done for people with excess skin. The design of the incision point is such that it sits right below the eyelashes and excess skin is conservatively removed, so when the wound heals, the wounds barely show as an artificially created line. In our doctor’s hands, these scars cannot be detected most of the time. The removal of the fat pads is done the same way as the inner incision procedure, except for the fact that fat removal is done on the opposite side for most of the time. For people above the age of 40, the lower eyelid tissue becomes loose in all layers. In these people, a canthopexy (temporary outer corner tightening with an absorbable stitch fixed on the bone membrane on the upper outer eye socket frame) is done along with lateral muscle hitching to strengthen the upward pulling of the lower eyelid skin further, to prevent the possible dreadful lower eyelid eversion (ectropion).
Pinch blepharoplasty is a simplified low eyelid surgery when bulging fat pads do not accompany the lower eyelid skin excess. Because it does not change the mid-lamella (layer) structure, the recovery is typically much faster. When carefully designed, this pinch blepharoplasty could often be combined with the transconjunctival approach for removal of skin from outside and fat from inside, the fact that the surgical trauma from this combination is much less than that the subsidiary approach makes it a very popular choice amongst our patients.
Laser blepharoplasty is often done as an accessory procedure to the approaches mentioned above. It utilizes fractional CO2 laser to tighten the skin when the excess skin is not severe enough to warrant a skin excision. Depending on the skin texture and the healing capability, one to three sessions of the laser may be required to secure a desirable result. The great benefit of this procedure is that the skin would become resurfaced and greatly rejuvenated, adding much more elasticity with much less fine wrinkles. The drawback is a longer recovery time because of the temporary pink color lingering around.
Canthopexy (fixating the outer eye corner tendon) is done in conjunction with lower eyelid skin removal to prevent the lower eyelid from everting. To make the protection more secure, a muscle hitching (pulling up the lower lateral orbicularis muscle) is often done together. Because an absorbable stitch is used to fixate the outer eye corner tendon structure and the orbicularis muscle to the upper outer frame at the bone membrane, no suture removal is needed afterward. While canthoplasty could be done via the lower eyelid surgery subsidiary incision wound, it is better if an opening at the upper blepharoplasty could be used at the time of surgery. Please check with our doctor when it comes to the selection of surgical approaches.
Lower eyelid ectropion (eversion from scarring) repair is a huge topic in that it encompasses many different clinical presentations with different etiologies. The basic components of ectropion repair would include possible mid-lamella buttressing/enhancement, possible skin grafting, possible fat grafting, possible repair with hard palate vs. Alloderm, and most of the time, canthoplasty (forming a new, higher positioned and tighter lower eyelid). At times, a mid-facelift may be needed to enhance the lateral support of the lower eyelid structures further. Because every case is different, it is the best that the patient has detailed discussions with our doctor to form the final treatment plan.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
Upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty) for aging looks (Dermatochalasis) is a general procedure. When we age, there will be more excess skin and more wrinkles appearing in the eyelids. The excessive skin droops and weighs down on the eyes, causing an aged appearance, and in some people, causing blockage of the lymphatic drainage, resulting in swollen/edematous look. At the same time, the eyelid muscle may also become excessive, along with down-migration of the eye socket fat pads into the lower medial and lateral positions, causing a more senile effect. Additionally, some people may experience one or both eyes becoming much smaller, due to the eye-opening muscle(s) (levator muscle) being dehisced (broken) at the fascia level. Hence, upper eyelid surgery is devised to fix these problems.
Dr. Yu, our Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, graduated from the world-famous Maye Clinic and studied under quite a few world-renowned master plastic surgeons. He is very strict on following the routines about eyelid surgery. In addition to performing the usual eye examination, he would carefully examine the amount of excess skin, the crease widths, the skin quality, the fat pad positions, muscle functions, among others, before forming a treatment plan. Specific risks, benefits, and alternatives will be discussed. Right before the surgery, he would have the patient in a sit-up and spend as much time as necessary to draw the markings for the procedure and later to reconfirm the trademarks with the patient in a lying down position, so no error is made.
The surgery is typically done with skin removal, fat pad repositioning back into their original positions, capsule tightening, levator muscle repair (if necessary), and crease fixation. If the new socket is too hollowed out, fat grafting may need to be done at this stage. Particularly need to be mentioned here is the crease fixation step: most older methods involve the incision of the levator fascia attachment at the Tarsal plate with reattachment of the skin edges back onto the repaired levator edges. Now this maneuver results in a stable crease fixation, at the same time, it also causes the creases to be “dead fixed”(creases remained even when eyes closed), with a resulting unnatural appearance. Our doctor utilizes his knowledgeable understanding of the human anatomy, and without the need to incise the levator aponeurosis/fascia attachment, he fixes the eyelid creases directly onto the levator aponeurosis, creating very natural creases that are “dynamic life”(only shows creases when eyes are open). So the final result is natural-appearing upper eyelids that are full in volume as they should appear when young. If needed, an internal brow lift could be done along with this upper blepharoplasty, to augment the beautiful results further.
The suture removal is around seven days. If there is bruising, it usually lasts two weeks, and swelling, one to three weeks, for most people.
ANTIOXIDANT IV
Anti-oxidant – IV therapy has been used for decades in hospitals to treat a range of conditions, from dehydration to nutrient-absorption disorders, but it’s increasingly offered at independent clinics and through house call-type services that pledge to help people feel better without clogging already-burdened emergency departments. And, while it may be most buzzed-about as a hangover cure in party cities like Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, IV therapy is also given to people with migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as those who want a nutritional, athletic, energy, beauty or immunity boost.
Our IV anti-oxidant therapy is a custom blend of multi-vitamins, electrolytes, and Glutathione. It is a powerful way to boost your body’s resources and minimize the damage of free radicals and oxidative stress that can damage and even kill cells all over your body. In fact, our anti-oxidant blend includes a mega-dose of Glutathione as well as a mega-dose of Vitamin C.
If you’re interested in boosting your antioxidants, strengthening your immune system and minimizing the chances of damaging oxidative stress.
Mole/Birth Mark Removal
Our skin specialists at Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Med Spa know that birthmarks can adversely impact your appearance and life. Our team offers a wide variety of state-of-the-art birthmark and mole removal treatments that can be customized to eliminate or reduce these marks and help boost self-confidence.
If you have a mole or birthmark that is affecting your appearance, or you have one that has grown over time, then give us a call and schedule a consultation for an expert evaluation and treatment.
TYPES OF MOLES AND BIRTHMARKS
Brown Birthmarks Also Known as Birthmark, Congenital Nevus, Brown Mole, Brown Birthmarks Flat or elevated brown spots on the skin.
Hemangioma Also Known as Birthmark, Strawberry Birthmarks, Red/vascular Birthmark, Hemangioma Hemangiomas are present in up to 10% of newborns. They may become apparent in the first days and weeks of life.
Moles Also Known as Moles, Nevi, Brown Birthmarks Sun exposure may darken or increase the number of moles.
Port Wine Stain Birthmark Also Known as Birthmark, Port Wine Stain, Vascular Malformation Port wine stains commonly appear as red or burgundy patches on the skin which slowly darken and thicken in the first several decades of life.
Red Vascular Birthmark Also Known as Port Wine Stain, Strawberry Birthmarks, Hemangioma The two primary types of red birthmarks treated are the hemangioma and the port-wine stain.
Red Birthmark Removal The two primary types of red birthmarks treated are the hemangioma and the port-wine stain.
CO2 Fractional Laser Treatment
The Carbon Dioxide (C02) Fractional Laser Resurfacing removes layers of skin tissue in a fractional method (columns of skin are removed, leaving the skin surrounding each column intact to aid in healing) to help reduce “age-spots” (also called sun freckles, liver spots, and lentiginous), fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, uneven coloration, skin laxity, textural irregularities, dull tone, and a thinned collagen layer of the face, neck, and chest.
CO 2 is the best treatment if you wish to get the most results with one treatment. If you have the ability to take some time to heal (7-14 days), having this one treatment is like having multiple other non-invasive treatments at once. It is also the best single treatment for advanced skin damage and wrinkling.
CO2 is an in-office procedure that requires pre and post-treatment medications to ensure proper healing and comfort during the procedure. Discomfort varies on the depth of the treatment. For your comfort during the treatment, we apply a topical anesthetic or inject local anesthetic and/or tumescent anesthetic and prescribe sedative medications to reduce discomfort. After the treatment most patients describe the post-procedure feeling as a bad sunburn for about 12 hours to 2 days. Please also follow the instructions for all other prescribed pain medication as needed post treatment. We also recommend pain or relaxation medications prior to treatment therefore you will need to have somebody drive you home after treatment.
Typically, one CO2 laser treatment with is recommended. Occasionally, in an area that cannot be treated aggressively, we may need to do more than one treatment to optimize results. Maintenance treatments may also be necessary to maintain results, especially if the sun is not avoided or proper skin care is not used.
Occasionally, even with the best care, another treatment may be necessary in a few years (in the area around the eyes, it may only be 1-2 years).
Pico Laser
The DISCOVERY PICO Series generates a pure photoacoustic effect to shatter inks and pigmentations leaving the surrounding tissues unharmed. This picosecond laser, thanks to its shorter pulse durations and high peak power can effectively pulverize even the deepest skin pigment.
The Discovery Pico Laser delivers both picosecond and nanosecond pulses with industry-leading 1.8 Gw of peak power. Pico-Boost technology offers four separate emission modes: Picosecond, Q-Switched, OptiPuse, and PhotoThermal for even more treatment options. With a wide range of top hat square, round and fractional spots, the Quanta OptiBeam II handpieces make Discovery Pico a powerful and flexible laser in its class.
SmartLipo Laser Liposuction
SmartLipo laser utilizes a flexible 1mm DM glass fiber to transmit hot laser energy into the fatty tissue under the skin, melting the fat away, while shrinking the loose skin above. This technique was scientifically proven to be able to shrink an additional 14% of the overlying skin after liposuction as compared to regular liposuction procedures.
Our doctor has done thousands of SmartLipo Laser liposuctions, generating numerous extremely pleasing results, tightening the loose skin and cutting through tough fibrous/hard to liposuction regions. He found that this technique works the best in the upper arms, the under chin, the tummy, the “Buffalo Hump” area of the upper back/lower neck junction, the inner knee and the area just above the knees.
Male Breast Reduction (Man-boobs, Gynecomastia)
Gynecomastia surgery is gaining popularity due to the simple fact that American people are getting bigger and fatter. First, certain endocrinological etiologies or cancers need to be ruled out. Then the surgery can usually be done by utilizing a combination of liposuction and direct excision of the breast glands sitting just under the nipples.
Our doctor designs his surgery by making small incisions just under the nipples, and each incision can be used for the liposuction port for the other breast. The effectiveness of the liposuction is warranted by using a power-assisted device. And after the fat is all cleaned out, the remaining gland tissue is easily teased out for removal. Typically, the skin will shrink to a significant extent, so there is no need for excess skin removal for most people.
Breast Reconstruction
Minor breast reconstruction for patients with lumpectomy (partial breast removal) is usually done with fat grafting. Because there is often significant scarring involved, special instruments are employed to relieve the tension of the scars to facilitate the fat grafting.
For complete breast excision (Mastectomy, radical mastectomy), the patient is encouraged to see our doctor prior to having the surgery, so coordinated reconstruction procedures could be arranged seamlessly. But for the ones who already had the mastectomy done, the choices for reconstruction are relatively limited. In any case, the reconstruction involves flap surgery, expander, or direct placement of implants. The good news is that, with the availability of Alloderm, reconstruction even in patients, post-radiation therapy could yield great results.
Breast Reduction
Liposuction could solve the problem of a young person’s large breasts when they are too droopy. In some cases, the nipples could rise more than one inch. The prerequisite is that the breast is large with thick fat and the skin, elastic. One to two cup sizes could be removed by this technique.
Vertical scar or short scar breast reduction (Keyhole pattern breast reduction) refer to the same technique. A wedge of excess breast tissue, along with excess skin, is removed, then medial and lateral flaps of breast tissue are folded (one on top of the other) to provide self-support for the upper poles and the central mount. After careful closure, the new breasts will be significantly reduced in size and the shape much better than before. To make the shape even better, Dr. Yu adds a liposuction procedure to the outer breast tail region to get rid of this particular lump of tissue that makes the breasts unsightly, or at least unpleasant to look at. This makes the breasts look even younger.
Wise-pattern breast reduction, similar to the above Wise-pattern breast lift description, except for the fact that a wedge of breast tissue is removed according to preoperative planning, before the medial and lateral breast tissue flaps are developed.
Breast reduction for people with breast implants can be made for either implant removal or exchange for smaller implants. The same principles for achieving nice and full shapes apply. So there is no worry about the presence of implants hampering the final result.
Failed breast reduction can be repaired so long as a detailed history and OR record is provided to our doctor.
Our doctor is meticulous with his surgical planning, execution, and skin closure. Regardless of which technique he employs, the breast reduction results by our doctor are constantly praised by our patients and their family members.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
People could have droopy breasts for all kinds of reasons: weight loss, congenital factor, large sizes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or aging could all play a role.
Liposuction, when strategically performed, could solve the problem of a young person’s large breasts when being too droopy. In some cases, the nipples could rise more than one inch, after “weight loss” from breast liposuction. The prerequisite is that the breast is large with thick fat and the skin, elastic.
Circumareolar lift (Donut lift or Benelli lift) works by having a donut-shaped piece of skin removed around the areola. While it could potentially remove a sign of excess skin, it does flatten the breasts to some extent. The success of it depends on the integrity of placed thick permanent sutures around the areola just under the skin.
Short scar breast lift (Keyhole pattern breast lift) can be performed if the amount of skin in excess is mild to moderate. The skin is cinched at the inframammary fold vicinity to facilitate the closure of the excisional wounds, whereas the breast tissue is divided into medial and lateral flaps to allow for self augmentation, by folding on each other, resulting in a very perky look when the everything heals. And the upper poles in the “V” area becomes naturally fuller. So, instead of making the breasts into the usual flat and small “pancakes” when the traditional method is employed, Dr. Yu is always able to turn his patients’ droopy breasts into something that they could only have when young: full, round, and perky! Dr. Yu invented his own technique and has been doing this for the last ten years, and the results are very satisfying.
Wise-pattern breast lift (Anchor shaped scar breast lift) is performed when the breasts are too droopy and the skin is too much excess. A much broader area of skin is removed and finally, when the skin is closed, the scars mimick that of an anchor shape. The internal rearrangement of tissue could be done in many different ways. However, Dr. Yu is almost always able to use his unique medial and lower flap, a simple and elegant approach to create self augmentation in the upper poles and the central mount regions, giving his patients very natural and beautiful results.
Breast augmentation, at the time of breast lift, with either implants or fat grafting could be done when there is not enough breast tissue to provide a desired size for the patients. All you need to do is to talk to our doctor about your needs.
Mid-Face Lift
A mid-face lift could greatly lift up the cheek structures. It could be done via a lower eyelid surgery incision, in combination with a brow surgery, being it open or endoscopic approach, or via a superior extension of a traditional facelift. An intra-oral approach could also be employed with the help of 8-prone Poly L-lactic acid ribbons.
Similar effect could be obtained by adding volume to the relevant structures in the mid-face, such as tear troughs, the apple cheek, the lateral portion of the cheek bone arch and the nasolabial folds. Both fillers and fat grafting could be used.
Heavy metal Cleansing
Heavy metal poisoning is the accumulation of various heavy metals in your body. Environmental and industrial factors expose you to high levels of heavy metals every day, including the foods you eat and air you breathe.
Some of these metals — such as zinc, copper, and iron — are good for you in small amounts, but overexposure can lead to heavy metal poisoning, such as what occurs in Wilson’s disease. This can be fatal.
Depending on your level of exposure, medications given intravenously under medical supervision can remove these toxins. These medications bind to the metals, a process called chelation. You doctor will test your blood, urine, and hair to measure metals toxicity.
