The Most Reliable Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures Used Today

From Dr. Harold J. Kaplan, MD, FACS

Cosmetic Surgery of the Face & Neck Exclusively

Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty): Upper blepharoplasty  corrects the excess skin on the eylids to create a more refined appearance.  Lower blepharoplasty also corrects loose skin to reduce sagging under the eyes.  To create a more refreshed, youthful look, Dr. Kaplan removes or repositions the fatty deposits that cause bags.  

Browlift: A browlift is a minimally invasive procedure designed to create more youthful looking eyes and a less tired appearance by elevating and repositioning the sagging eyebrow. Forehead lines may also be improved as a result of this procedure.

Forehead Lift: As with the browlift, one of the greatest benefits of this technique is that along with the skin, both underlying tissue and muscles can be lifted to correct deep forehead wrinkling and frown lines.  This helps create a more natural, longer-lasting result.

Face/Neck Lift: Dr. Kaplan corrects the effects of aging on the face and neck by lifting the underlying support muscles and reducing the excess skin, restoring youthfulness and softening wrinkles without creating a tight or unnatural look.

Submental Liposuction/Repair: Surgery is performed beneath the chin to eliminate the appearance of a "double chin".  Loose skin beneath the chin and neck may also be "lifted."  This procedure is often performed in concert with a facelift.

Nasal Surgery (Rhinoplasty):  Rhinoplasty can beautify the nose and often correct breathing difficulties at the same time.  By reshaping the cartilage and the nasal bones, Dr. Kaplan corrects the aesthetic presentation of the nose.  

Ear Correction (Otoplasty): Otoplasty is a procedure designed to correct malpositioned or malformed ears.  Not only can Dr. Kaplan "pin back" the ears, but he can also make the ears appear more symmetrical by reshaping them or reducing their size.

Facial Implants: 

• Surgical Implants require an incision and precise placement of a permanent prosthesis.  Dr. Kaplan can manipulate these to sculpt the chin, cheeks and other locations when augmentation of a particular feature is determined to enhance the result.
• Injectable Filler Implants include a variety of fillers available to plump and fill unwelcome lines and wrinkles and enhance lips.  The various sources of these materials are human and synthetic.  In general, the injections are done with small needles so there essentially no recovery time required.
  

Botox®: This injectable material temporarily reduces lines and wrinkles by weakening the underlying muscles which create the problem.

Laser Skin Resurfacing Techniques: A laser is used during facial plastic surgery as a resurfacing tool to significantly improve fine lines, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and acne scarring.  

Customized Skin Care Program: Trained medical aestheticians perform in-office medical strength chemical peels and Diamond tome particle-free microdermabrasion.  These treatments are coupled with a prescribed "at home" treatment regimen including skin care and sun-protection products.  These are only available at a physician's office.

Chemical Peels: Superficial and light chemical peels utilizing glycolic, beta hydroxy, retinoic and amino fruit acids, are safe and effective treatments to gradually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.  They are also effective in the treatment of acne.

Contractor Selection Tips from Clark Adams

The success or failure of a residential home improvement project, according to the California Contractors State License Board, is more dependent upon contractor selection than any other decision a homeowner will make.  Because contractor selection is so critical to getting the job done right the first tim, the CSLB has provided a checklist for homeowners to use in their selection process.

The checklist is designed to give remodeling consumers a better picture of all the potential contractor by listing recommended practices and certain requirements of all home improvement contracts and alert consumers to any potential problems or liabilities before a contract is entered into.

• Did your contractor tell you whether or not they carry General Liability Insurance? While not a requirement, it is a requirement to disclose whether or not a policy is in force.  The CSLB strongly recommends all contractors carry this insurance.
• What does this insurance cover? It is supposed to cover third party bodily injury and accidental property damage, but not the quality of the work performed by the contractor.
• How can you make sure the contractor is insured? If requested, the contractor is required to provide you with the name and telephone number of the insurance company.  You should call and verify coverage and date of expiration. 
• What about a contractor who claims to be self-insured? A self-insured contractor has made a decision to be personally liable for losses that would ordinarily be covered by insurance.  As yourself, if something went wrong, would this contractor be able to cover those losses?
• Did you contact the State License Board and check the status of the License? Call 1-800-321-CSLB or visit the website at www.cslb.ca.gov.
• Did you verify that the contractor has Workman's Compensation Insurance? The website address will disclose if a policy is in force.  If the contractor has no employees, it is not required, but beware of the contractor says they use employees instead of subcontractors and there is no insurance.
• Did you get at least three local references from each contractor?  Are they local and can you call them?
• Are building permits required? Make sure to have who is responsible for obtaining and paying for permits in writing.
• Does the contract include a detailed description of the work to be done and the materials used? This description should include brand names, model numbers, colors, sizes, quantities and options.  More details in the contract now prevent disputes later.
• Is there a schedule of payments? Maximum deposit is ten percent of the job or $1,000.  Whichever is less.
• Are all changes or additions to the contract in writing? This is a requirement and reduces the possibility of later disagreements.
  

Remember, the more time you spend up-front assessing contractor qualifications, the greater chance you have of experiencing a successful remodeling project that will enhance your quality of life for years to come!

For more information regarding window and door replacement, you can contact the professionals at Clark Adams Co. Windows & Doors or visit their showrooms at 2411 Artesia Blvd. in Redondo Beach or 23841 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance.  You can call for your free in-home estimate at (310) 214-2222.  Visit their website at www.clarkadams.com

The Doctor For Faces Discusses ALL of the Facts and None of the Hype

Many people believe that they should wait until some arbitrary age to have cosmetic surgery. However, according to Dr. Harold J. Kaplan — The Doctor For Faces, early intervention allows for longer lasting results since underlying muscles and tissues are likely to be more resilient. Another benefit to addressing concerns as they arise is that less pronounced problems usually require less extensive solutions. The most valuable benefit of early intervention is that you can feel good about yourself and enjoy your improved appearance sooner.


Have friends or co-workers or family members mentioned that you look tired or angry when you’re not? Heavy eyelids, under eye bags and a sagging brow can create that impression. To achieve a more refreshed or alert look, Dr. Kaplan subtly repositions the brow and when indicated, corrects droopy upper eyelids and lower eyelid bags. Dr. Kaplan has modified these surgical techniques so that they are minimally invasive with a quick recovery time.

Do you have concerns that your chin seems to be disappearing or that you are developing jowls or a “wattle?” As we age, the skin and muscles of the neck and jaw line become lax, causing skin wrinkling and excess folds. In some people, loss of bone density of the jaw exacerbates the problem due to a lack of bony support. These factors contribute to a blurring of the jaw line and a loss of definition of the jaw-neck angle. Additionally some people, including many thin people, accumulate excess fat beneath the chin.

Several procedures correct symptoms of aging in the neck and lower facial area that give more striking definition to the jaw line, eliminate jowls, correct a sagging neck and smooth facial grooves. Localized liposuction and/or submental repair possibly combined with a chin or cheek implant are minimally invasive procedures that can help to reestablish a normal neck contour and jaw line. If the problem is more advanced, a mini-lift, full face lift and/or neck lift is likely to be necessary. When done in conjunction with a face lift, extra skin can be reshaped by uplifting and smoothing it over newly-tightened neck muscles.

Dr. Kaplan is often asked if surgery is the only option for improving one’s appearance.
The answer depends on the results that you’d like to achieve. There are several non-surgical procedures available that improve one’s appearance without surgery and with little or no downtime. Botox® and the injectable fillers Radiesse™, Restylane®, Perlane® and Juvederm™ temporarily, yet effectively, reduce lines and wrinkles. The MicroLaserPeel™ precisely removes the outermost layers of the skin to successfully treat skin conditions such as wrinkles, laxity, scars, and texture or pigmentation problems. The greater the skill and experience of the person performing these procedures, the better the results are likely to be.

Many other non-invasive and non-surgical procedures that are hyped in the media often promise more than they deliver and have not proven to be effective. Dr. Kaplan says, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is and you will likely be disappointed.” Unfortunately, if your concerns are about sagging skin or the need to recontour facial features, surgery is the most effective option. And surgical results are the most significant and longest lasting. Since all plastic surgeons do not have the same training and experience, common sense says it’s best to go to a specialist with the most experience in the procedure(s) that you are considering. Facial plastic surgeons, like Dr. Kaplan, are super-specialists in cosmetic procedures of the face and neck since the breadth and depth of their experience is exclusively in those procedures.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit Dr. Kaplan’s website at www.thedoctorforfaces.com or call his office 310-378-3444.

The Green Seal Choice

The Perfect Choice for Environmentally Conscious Consumers

The true test of a company’s integrity today is how environmentally conscious they operate. With many companies looking to maximize their bottom line, it is refreshing to see companies like Clark Adams Co. Windows and Doors who put the environment up at the top of their list. Adams chose to sell the Renewal by Andersen® replacement window line after he learned about their Green Seal Certification. According to Adams, “ Choosing the Renewal by Andersen window line was a no-brainer. Everyone knows that they make a superior product and have a 100-year-old company behind them. So it didn’t surprise me that this is the only replacement window product that carries the green seal certification. What could be more perfect for our environmentally conscious Californians who also demand a great looking window product?”

The Renewal by Andersen line was awarded the Green Seal Certification for many reasons. All of the wood fibers used in the compounding process, as well as some of the thermoplastic polymer are reclaimed directly from the 65-acre Andersen Corporation manufacturing plant operations in Bayport Minnesota. In addition to the manufacturing benefits of the Renewal product, the use of their patented Fibrex material is an excellent insulator preventing heat or cold transfer into or out of your home to maximize energy efficiency.

As a consumer, you have the right to research and get a clear understanding of how your purchase of items can affect the environment. One way to determine if a product is environmentally responsible is to look to see if the product you are buying is Green Seal Certified. The Green Seal organization is an independent non-profit dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services. The Green Seal mission is to achieve a more sustainable world by promoting environmentally responsible production, purchasing and products.

Green Seal certification ensures that a product meets rigorous science-based environmental leadership standards. This gives manufacturers the assurance to back up their claims and purchasers confidence that certified products are better for human health and the environment. To find out if a product you want to purchase has been green seal certified, visit www.greenseal.org.

For more information about the Renewal by Andersen Windows, contact Clark Adams Co. Windows and Doors at 310-214-2222 or visit their showrooms at 2411 Artesia Blvd. in Redondo Beach or 23841 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. Please visit www.clarkadams.com.