How to Avoid Botched Botox

Bloomfield Hills, MI – We’ve all seen it – in fact, it can be hard to look away. Bad Botox can happen to even the best of us. So how can you be sure you avoid bad Botox? By researching and choosing a certified plastic surgeon, you can safeguard your chances of having a beautiful outcome.

“Unfortunately, no one is immune to bad Botox, even celebrities,” says MI plastic surgery expert Dr. Ali. “In some cases it is subtle, but clear something just isn’t quite right. In other cases, it’s obvious something has gone terribly wrong. It is important to remember that as with anything, when it comes to Botox, not all providers are created equally.”

Today, Botox has become incredibly common. That means it’s no longer relegated just to your plastic surgeon’s office and you can find it in a variety of locations. But that isn’t always a good thing.

“Just because someone has the ability to inject Botox, doesn’t mean they have the skill required to give you the look you want,” says Dr. Ali. “Botox and other fillers take skill and artistry to ensure a natural-looking and functioning face after. It should be customized to each individual patient, based on their individual face.”

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and if you aren’t careful, you may end up with a look you didn’t anticipate. Not only that, there are very real side effects that can happen when in the hands of a less skilled Botox provider.

If your Botox injector isn’t as skilled, you can end up with bruising. This happens when a provider fails to take the time to carefully look at the patient to assess his or her anatomy and location of facial veins. If Botox is injected into a superficial skin vein, bruising will appear. This can also be minimized by pre-treating the area with ice.

When having Botox injected near the lower eyelid, you’ll want to ensure it’s being done by a steady and skilled hand, otherwise you may be seeing double vision. While rare, this can happen if the injection happens too close to the eyelid.

Botox is not one size fits all. A provider cannot simply inject it into the same locations on each patient because each face and how the muscles work are different. And, each patient will desire a slightly different outcome.

To ensure your best result after Botox, be sure your provider is skilled and experienced in treating a variety of patients, and is dedicated to treating each patient like an individual. It should not be considered a cookie-cutter procedure. In the hands of the right plastic surgeon, Botox can leave you looking and feeling naturally refreshed.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Surgery concept.

Preparing for Plastic Surgery

Bloomfield Hills, MI – So you’ve made the decision to undergo plastic surgery. Congratulations! Plastic surgery can improve your life by helping you look and feel your best, but it is important to remember that any surgery is a serious procedure. There are several things you should do to prepare.

“I like to make sure that all of my patients are well-prepared, both mentally and physically, prior to their surgery,” says Dr. Ali, a Michigan plastic surgeon. “We want to ensure the best results following your procedure, so there are a few things you should do beforehand for that to happen.”

Three weeks before your surgery

  1. Stop smoking. Smoking can cause serious complications because it constricts blood flow. Serious complications can happen during your procedure, and smoking following your procedure can impede healing. Do not resume smoking until your surgeon gives you permission. This will ensure your incision heals correctly.
  2. Stop drinking. Drinking, like smoking, can slow down your body’s ability to heal and can also lower your immune system. Alcohol can also thin the blood, making you more likely to bleed excessively during your procedure.
  3. Make a list of any medications you take, including over-the-counter and herbal remedies. Some medications can interfere with proper blood clotting, or anesthesia. Providing a complete list of medications will prevent negative interactions.
  4. Be sure you are eating a healthy diet. Salicylates can be found in many foods, and can affect the blood and lead to excessive bruising. Cut out foods such as tea, coffee, dried herbs, black pepper, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, and fruit juices.

Two weeks before your surgery

  1. Stop taking any medications that could lead to excessive bleeding. These include aspirin and ibuprofen, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-coagulants, and internally ingested vitamin E.
  2. Increase your vitamin intake. Vitamin A can boost your immune system, while vitamin C can boost wound healing properties. Bromelain can help reduce swelling. If you have any questions, ask your surgeon which vitamins will be most helpful.

One week before your surgery

  1. Limit your sodium intake. Sodium can lead to swelling, and may prevent your body from healing as quickly as it otherwise would.
  2. Eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and protein. What you eat can be a great help in your healing process.
  3. Fill all prescriptions. This can be helpful, and prevent you from having to run to the pharmacy while recovering from a tummy tuck or other procedure. You may experience pain after your surgery, and will want all medications ready right away.
  4. Buy any post-surgical garments you may need. Some procedures require special garments to aid in healing. If your surgeon’s office doesn’t provide those, be sure you purchase them before the day of your surgery.
  5. If you are having a facelift or other facial procedure and color your hair, you may want to schedule a touch-up appointment as close to your surgery date as possible. You won’t be able to visit the salon until your incision has completely healed, so it may be a while until you can have your hair touched up.

In the days leading up to your surgery, be sure you are using a plain soap to clean the surgical area well. If you are having a breast augmentation, do not shave under your arms in the days leading up to your surgery to limit your risk of developing an infection.

The night before your surgery, be sure to get plenty of rest. You won’t be able to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before your procedure to avoid risks with your anesthesia. If you are having facial surgery, you may wash your hair the night before, but avoid putting any hair spray or other product in.

Be sure you’ve made arrangements for someone to drive you home following your procedure.

The day of your surgery you may brush your teeth as normal. Do not use make-up, deodorant, lotions, or other beauty products. Remove all jewelry. If you wear contacts, take them out and wear your glasses for the day. Loose fitting clothing will be the most comfortable following your procedure. If you are having a facial procedure, you may wish to have a scarf and/or dark glasses to wear after.

If you have any questions about how to prepare for your surgery, don’t hesitate to ask your surgeon. Failing to follow your surgeon’s instructions can impede your body’s ability to heal, and may impact your results.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Young female touches her neck, white background

How To Get Rid of Your Double Chin

Bloomfield Hills, MI – When you look in the mirror, are you embarrassed by the sagging, wrinkled appearance of your neck? Even without other changes to our bodies, our necks can make us look older or even heavier than we actually are. But a neck contouring procedure can correct that, shaving years and even pounds off of your look.

“A double chin is the result of excess fat and loose skin that builds up on the neck,” says Dr. Ali, a Michigan plastic surgeon. “It can happen as we age, or after we gain and lose weight, or due to stress. A neck lift and contouring is a great way to remove the fullness associated with a double chin, especially in patients who aren’t ready for a full facelift yet.”

When your neck simply doesn’t match the rest of your appearance, a neck lift is a great solution. During the procedure, your surgeon will remove excess skin, alter and tighten the neck muscles, remove excess fat, and for some patients use Botox or other injections to address additional issues.

If your problem is that your neck looks more like a turkey’s waddle, your surgeon will cut under your chin or behind your ears to access the platysma muscle. Some of the muscle may be removed to achieve the ideal look. Botox injections can be used in conjunction with the procedure to relax the parts of the muscle that create a banded or full look in your neck.

If you also have liposuction performed, your surgeon will make a small incision just below your chin, and use the cannula to remove excess fat.

Excess skin can be trimmed and lifted into a more ideal place, and then secured with either tissue glue or stitches.

Some patients may only require one of the above mentioned procedures to achieve their desired look, while others may require multiple. It’s important to discuss your aesthetic goals with your plastic surgeon before your procedure so he can provide you with the look you desire.

Younger patients, those in their 20s to 50s, may only need liposuction to get their desired look/ If you have good skin elasticity, your skin will contract smoothly, providing a beautiful result following the liposuction.

If you have a more extensive neck lift surgery, you’ll need about two weeks to fully recover, however an exact recovery time depends on the individual. Your neck will feel tight and there will be some bruising and swelling. This is all normal and the after-effects of surgery will subside within a few weeks.

It is important to follow all of your surgeon’s after-care instructions to ensure the best result.

Neck lift surgery can reduce sagging skin, remove excess skin, smooth out wrinkles and creases, and improve the appearance of neck bands. Best of all, the results will look natural and will age well with the patient.

If you’re tired of looking older than you are because of your double chin, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali today.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Plastic Surgery Trends to Expect in 2016

Bloomfield Hills, MI – What can we expect in the world of plastic surgery this year? As the number of people seeking out procedures continues to rise, Dr. Ali discusses what procedures he thinks will lead the way.

“More people continue to discover the advantages of plastic surgery,” says the Michigan plastic surgeon. “It’s not just for older patients – there is a procedure for everyone. I think one of the biggest areas we’ll see as a trend this year is an increase in the number of millennials seeking out the plastic surgeon’s office.”

Currently, this generation makes up approximately 20 percent of the population seeking out plastic surgery, but with social media continuing to be a vital part of their lives, millennials will most likely make up a bigger piece of the pie soon.

“The younger generations live their lives out via social media,” says Dr. Ali. “I think we’ll see more young people looking for ways to perfect their looks to portray their best selves online.”

In the same vein, Dr. Ali believes we’ll continue to see an increase in the number of men who visit plastic surgeons.

“Women aren’t the only ones who want to erase the signs of aging,” says Dr. Ali. “Men are finding that to be competitive in the work place, it can help to look younger and more vigorous. It’s not uncommon to find men asking about blepharoplasty, or eyelid procedures, to erase the lines around their eyes that can prematurely age them.”

Dr. Ali expects men to continue to seek out procedures, especially for the face and chest.

The last several years have seen an increase in procedures to enhance the buttocks area. With Beyonce and Kim Kardashian-West dominating magazine covers, the buttocks are a popular area for augmentation, and Dr. Ali expects this to continue, as well.

“Women love procedures such as the Brazilian butt lift to give them the same shape Kim and Beyonce have,” says Dr. Ali. “While I think this will continue, I do think we will see an increase in women wanting a more natural looking shape that is in proper proportion with their bodies. Bigger might be better, but natural-looking is best.”

The natural look also spills over to another area of the body – the breasts. Breast augmentations continue to dominate the plastic surgery world, but surgeons are seeing women opt for smaller, more natural looking sizes.
Dr. Ali thinks there will also continue to be an increase in the number of minimally invasive procedures performed.

“People are realizing that with the amazing array of fillers on the plastic surgery market, they don’t have to go under the knife to look young and refreshed,” says Dr. Ali. “A few simple and virtually pain-free injections can reverse the signs of aging, and it can be done on your lunch break. Fillers fit in to busy lifestyles, where people want to look and feel their best, but don’t want to be out of commission for long.”

One thing is certain, Americans want to look younger and feel their best, and are discovering that a trip to the plastic surgeon can do that. In 2014, we saw the biggest increase in spending on plastic surgery since 2008, with Americans spending more than $12 billion. In 2016, Dr. Ali thinks that figure will be even higher.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Cellulite - bad skin condition

Areas You Never Knew Could Look So Good

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Most people have a problem area or two that they’d love to get rid of. If the idea of plastic surgery or a tummy tuck doesn’t sound appealing, there might be another solution. There are several areas of the body that liposuction can have a big impact on.

“Liposuction is a great option for many patients who don’t need a more invasive procedure, or who just have a small area to correct,” says Dr. Ali, a plastic surgeon in Michigan. “From your face, to your belly, to even your ankles, we can remove excess fat and have you looking and feeling better than ever in no time.”

Do you suffer from what is known as “cankles?” When you wear shorts, if you don’t have a clear, beautiful and elegant transition from your calf to your ankles, you may have cankles. And that can be a source of embarrassment for some. But liposuction is a great way to trim out the excess fat, and give you back graceful lines and shapelier legs.

Even with the best workout routine and attention to diet, we can develop stubborn areas of fat the refuse to go away. And as we age, we may notice that happening more around our midsections. If you have a small area, often known as a muffin top, that just doesn’t respond to diet or exercise, liposuction can help.

Liposuction is also a great option for your upper torso or back. Do you have areas of fat that bulge out from your bra? Liposuction can target those areas, removing the fat and making a smooth, beautifully contoured look.

Do you see a double chin when you look in the mirror. Liposuction can slim the jawline and neck area, making you look both thinner and younger.

Are you interested in a breast reduction, but aren’t excited about a serious surgery and scars? Liposuction may be able to sculpt away fatty tissue, leaving you with a more manageable profile. However, liposuction cannot be used for large reductions, only smaller reshaping procedures.

If you are a male who is embarrassed to take your shirt off at the pool because of enlarged breasts, known as gynecomastia, liposuction is a great solution for you. It can give you the appearance of a firmer and more muscular looking chest.

Another area that is gaining popularity for liposuction is the calf. Skinny jeans are all the rage, and many women don’t like the way their calves look in them. A little liposuction can contour the calf, creating a beautifully sculpted leg.

To achieve your desired look, it’s important to follow all after care instructions provided by your plastic surgeon. Compression garments will be worn to control swelling and ensure the skin compresses to the new contours the liposuction created.

Recovery time will depend on the specific area you had liposuction performed on, but it can take a few months for the swelling to completely go away. But as the swelling disappears, you’ll be thrilled with your new look and can confidently take on the world.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.