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Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd cannot provide specific answers to individual questions about surgical procedures, treatments, products, conditions, diagnoses, fees, or any other specifics. These queries and the responses contained herein are intended only as general guidelines, and reflect the opinions of Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd. The information presented is NOT to be considered a substitute for a consultation with a medical doctor. |
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| ACNE |
| "I used to have bad acne in my 20's, but now I have scars on my cheeks that look like little holes where I once had pimples. I read that I should have a layer of skin removed. Will that get rid of the scars?" Having a layer of skin 'removed' would be done by laser resurfacing or dermabrasion to smooth out the outermost layer of the skin. Dermabrasion is not as common since the world has embraced laser technology. Laser resurfacing with Erbium:YAG or Carbon Dioxide or a combination of both may be a viable option, but there are less invasive treatments too. If you've never done anything for your scars yet, you might consider starting with something less aggressive first. Micro-dermabrasion or mechanical abrasion of the skin with a fine spray of crystals has been known to improve acne scars. If the scars are depressed, they can be injected with fillers like bovine Collagen or fat to fill out the contour. The best treatment may be a combination of injectables and some method of resurfacing. I have large pores around my nose area. How can I make them look smaller? Everyone
has larger pores around the nose because skin has more oil-producing
sebaceous glands in the center panel of the face than on the sides
or around the eyes. On the face, upper chest and upper back, the
oil glands are larger and open directly onto the skin surface, unlike
elsewhere on the body, where the oil glands open into a hair follicle,
and are smaller. The size of the 'pores' on the skin is directly
proportional to how much oil is being produced by the underlying
sebaceous gland. Consequently, because the center panel of the face
has the largest size and number of these glands, the openings of
them appear larger. To diminish the size of the pores on the nose,
keep them clear of any clogging debris that is keeping them 'open.'
Small blackheads can be manually removed and an anti-bacterial lotion
applied. Keep the pores free of debris by using clay-based cleansers,
masques, and oil-controlling products to absorb surface oils. Treatments
like Retin-A®
or Renova®
can unplug dead cells and cause the skin to swell slightly, making
pores appear smaller. You can't really 'shrink' the size of the
pores permanently since the openings of the oil glands have no muscle
surrounding the opening. The key is a daily oil-controlling skin
care program with a toner to close pores, coupled with regular professional
treatments |
| ARMS |
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Brachioplasty (a facelift for the arms) surgery will correct your flabby arms but at a big price - a scar that runs from the elbow to the armpit. Most women wouldn't go sleeveless with a long scar, so it defeats the purpose. External ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, ultrasonic energy applied to the skin, is sometimes used to maximize contraction of excess arm skin. Traditional liposuction also works well if your skin is elastic enough to shrink successfully. On older women with very loose skin, liposuction is not a good risk and surgery is really the only option. In some cases, a modified incision with a scar confined to the armpit fold might be possible. |
| BOARD CERTIFICATION |
| "I saw a cosmetic surgeon who says he is board certified, but I couldn't find his name listed and no one I know has used him. How can I check on what his training is?" The specialties which comprise the newly extended definition of 'cosmetic surgery' are governed by the following boards in the US: the American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Dermatology, American Board of Otolaryngology, American Board of Opthalmology. Oral surgeons, dentists, gynecologists, general surgeons, as well as general practitioners do cosmetic surgery today and it is not illegal. To find out if an M.D. is board certified in a particular specialty, call the ABMS 800-776-CERT or click on wlbeautylinks for websites that will give you doctors' true credentials all over the world. If you think it's |