Q: I often read that it takes 10 days to recover from a face lift but I don’t know if that includes upper and lower blephs plus browlift, which people often have at the same time. I’d like to know how long to budget in a general way even as you need to add the disclaimer that everyone is different, we all heal at different rates. If it helps I am a 45 woman basically in good health, some asthma and allergies, of Caucaision and African-American descent.   A: I have performed Face Lifts for over 20 years and don’t perform Brow Lifts along with Full Face Lifts because of the area of tissue dissection that required: across the entire forehead, face and neck.  This leaves very little area for blood supply to heal the skin flaps along the lower section of the Face Lift.  I typically will perform the full Face Lift, Neck Lift with or without the Bleharoplasty (eyelid Surgery) and save the Browlift for another time at 6-12 months later.  This is safer than having a problem with healing after the Face Lift where a portion of the skin could die creating an unsightly large scar. Full Face Lift with Neck Lifts require patients stay in the Beverly Hills/Los Angeles area for a minimum of 10 days and the tissues will take 4-6 months for the swelling, lumps and bumps to resolve.  Depending on your particular case…how much tissue dissection, skin removal etc. is performed, the longer your recovery time.  Most patients are able to put on makeup and look at 1 month post-op.   Q:When is the pre operative surgical markings done for a face lift and blepharoplasty. It is before the surgery while you are awake and sitting up or after you are sedated and lying down? A: I have been performing Face Lifts for over 20 years and have taught Face Lift techniques to resident surgeons for quite a few years. The markings associated with a Face Lift could be done either way…with the patient sitting up which is the way I saw plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons do when I was training over 20 some years ago. I have always allowed my Face Lift patients to lay down on the O R table before I do the facial marking as I feel it allows them to relax more. IMO, if the results of a Face Lift are not what you desired, I really doubt the way in which things were marked had any real impact. It’s more important that the true aesthetics of the face are accentuated during any Face Lift technique. The aesthetics of beauty is the topic of my new book “What’s Your Number…the palmer code”. Q: Opinions on Stem Cell Facelift? Is the “stem cell facelift” hype or something worth looking into? I have seen wonderful before and after photos, but I have learned not to always trust them. Thank you for your input. A: Sadly, complete hype. Stem Cell Face Lifts are nothing more exotic than your own fat treated to isolate the naturally occurring stem cells within your fat which is then injected into your face like traditional fat transfer.  Stem Cell Face Lifts may plump up the face but there’s no evidence to support claims that these stem cells will magically rejuvenate your face. Stem Cell Face Lifts can’t:

• tighten the underlying SMAS muscle layer
• tighten or remove excess skin

Q: Would a Surgeon Refuse Me a Temple Lift for Being Too Young?

I am a 20 year old female. I realize that face lifts are intended for much older people, but I think a temple lift could help improve the overall look of my face by giving the outer corners of my eyes a subtle lift and slightly lifting my lower cheeks. I’ve used my fingers to gently elevate the skin in that area and I quite like the way it looks. I don’t think my age should be a big factor in determining whether or not I am a good candidate for this surgery.

A:

At 20 years old it’s unlikely that your eyebrows are low enough in position to warrant any type of Forehead Lift.  I would always reserve the right to change my opinion based on seeing you but in my 20 + years of performing Face and Forehead Lifts, I have not performed a Forehead Lift on anyone under 27 and any type of Face Lift on anyone under 32 years of age.

Q: Face Lift at 40 years old

If I’m in my 40’s, would it be alright to have a Face Lift instead of a filler like Perlane or Restylane? A: Your age is much less of a deciding factor than the signs of aging and the shape of your facial features.  If you have nasolabial folds, jowls and excess loose skin, fillers would be helpful in shaping the face but won’t and can’t remove excess skin or tighten the underlying SMAS muscle.  For that, you would need a Minimum Incision Face Lift or a larger, more invasive traditional Face Lift. Think of fillers like Radiesse, Perlane, Juvederm, Restylane and Sculptra as the least invasive and effective method of reversing facial aging.  Combined Minimum Incision Face Lift along with fillers as the next step and finally fillers with a more involved type Face Lift as the most extreme way to rejuvenate the face and neck.

media quotes

magazine articles

tv appearances

Thank You cards, letters, E-mails and Patient reviews from the best possible source…our own patients.

Drpalmer.com

ThePalmerCode.com

Today’s news carries a story of Cindy who’s had a record 52 plastic and cosmetic surgeries. I recall media about Cindy, over the years both here and the UK (primarily), where she’s advocated this extreme amount of plastic surgery. Cindy received a stern talking to by Barbara Walters some years back about too much plastic surgery, during one of her US TV appearances and that must be at a point when she had fewer surgeries than the 52 being reported today. Is she a Celebrity because she’s had plastic surgery? It would appear so.

The question isn’t whether it’s right or wrong for her to have this exaggerated number of plastic and cosmetic surgeries ranging from Face Lifts, to Breast Implants, Cheek Implants, Chin Implant, Rhinoplasty and Eyelid Surgery….but rather should this be something that others should emulate? To this, I say a resounding NO! 52 surgeries seems ridiculous, outrageous and highlights some other need that is being met with constantly going under the knife. I’m not convinced that she looks good or better, so I’m not sure what the point of 52 surgeries would have been. From a video on today’s media, she has her hair hiding the front of both ears…what do the scars there look like after multiple Face Lifts and her right side of her mouth seems not to move as well as the left which could indicate nerve damage from one or more of these surgeries.

If we were to use The Palmer Code to calculate her Face Number, would that Number be higher in her before or after photos? ‘m guessing the before pictures would score higher, but you do the calculations yourself and formulate your own opinion. More is not always better and with plastic and cosmetic surgery at the World’s Best level, there is no substitution for sound aesthetic judgment and this would not dictate 52 surgeries, not ever IMHO. The media does consumers a disservice running these pieces with a disclaimer “please don’t try this yourself”.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Question: If I’m in my 40’s, would it be alright to have a Face Lift instead of a filler like Perlane or Restylane?

Answer: Your age is less, of a deciding, factor than the signs of aging and the shape of your facial features. If you have nasolabial folds, jowls and excess loose skin, fillers would be helpful in shaping the face but won’t and can’t remove excess skin nor can anything injected into the face (fillers or your own fat stem cells as recently hyped elsewhere) tighten the skin and underlying SMAS muscle. For that, you would need a Minimum Incision Face Lift or a larger, more invasive traditional Face Lift.
Think of fillers like Radiesse, Perlane, Juvederm, Restylane and Sculptra as the least invasive and effective method of reversing facial aging. Combined Minimum Incision Face Lift along with fillers as the next step and finally fillers with a more involved type of Full Face Lift as the most invasive/effective way to rejuvenate the face and neck. At the end of the day, you’ll have to decide along with the plastic and cosmetic surgeon you choose to do your facial rejuvenation, which of these three options works best in your particular case.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

media quotes about Dr Francis Palmer and his plastic and cosmetic surgery techniques
magazine articles about Dr Francis Palmer and his plastic and cosmetic surgery techniques
Dr Francis Palmer’s tv appearances
Dr Francis Palmer’s Patient’s reviews and comments from Thank You cards, letters, E-mails and Patient reviews from the best possible source…our own patients.

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery is the art of aesthetically enhancing the physical form. When properly performed, it can dramatically improve one’s appearance, restoring natural and youthful beauty.

A skilled plastic surgeon can help you achieve the look you’ve always desired through a combination of sound aesthetic judgment and surgical expertise that takes years to cull. Quality plastic surgery is “invisible”-it helps you look younger and more attractive, without appearing obvious or artificial. However, aesthetic vision and surgical skill vary among surgeons-so be sure that you are in the hands of a surgeon that is aesthetically gifted, highly competent and extremely well experienced.

Follow these four simple-common sense steps when selecting your plastic and cosmetic surgeon.

#1. First and foremost, listen to the aesthetic judgment of the surgeon. Does it sound like something that would enhance your appearance? Proper beauty aesthetics are easy to comprehend when properly explained. If it sounds reasonable to you, then proceed to step two. If it doesn’t sound right to you…..get another opinion. There is simply no substitute for sound aesthetic judgment! You may wish to read my new book on this subject “What’s Your Number…the palmer code.” **Available at Amazon.com

#2. Ask yourself if the surgeon has the experience to do what he/she is suggesting. Don’t be afraid to ask the surgeon-”how many times have you performed this procedure?” Most important of all-be sure to see real before and after photographs of patients who have undergone the same procedure. Do not settle for computer simulations! The computer will not be altering your looks—-the surgeon will! This is extremely important because, there is no substitute for experience! If you are satisfied, then proceed to step three-if you are not sure, then get another opinion!

#3. Once the first two steps have been met, you can factor in the price. Prior to this you’re not certain which procedure is right for you-therefore the price should be irrelevant. Step three is a point where you can be fairly comfortable with the level of surgical competence and overall satisfaction, so you may want to compare costs. Minor differences in costs may reflect such things as, how much of the finishing stitches does the surgeon do-or does the assistant complete this portion of the procedure. How well are the incisions hidden and how often will you have follow-up visits with the surgeon. There are reasons for price differences-be sure that you understand exactly what you are/are not getting! You may opt to pay the higher price for more personalized care! You can continue on to the fourth and final step.

#4. This is more of an intuitive step than the previous three. Here you may want to factor in variables like the board certification of the surgeon. Does he/she carry an impressive reputation in the community or carry a university teaching affiliation? How do you feel about the surgeon and the office staff? Follow your gut instincts—–they will serve you well!

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
Media quotes about Dr Francis Palmer
Magazine articles about Dr Francis Palmer and his Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Techniques
Dr Francis Palmer’s TV appearances
Thank You cards, letters, E-mails and Patient reviews from the best possible source…our own patients.

The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift, featured on ABC’s “The View” can make you look more naturally attractive, take off up to 15 years all in 90 minutes or less with or without general anesthesia. The secret lies with it’s creator, Dr Francis Palmer that Tatler Magazine named “one of the World’s Best” Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons for his pioneering work in Face Lift techniques that shape the face in an attractive manner…avoiding the pulled, wind swept or upturned mouth joker look.

The Palmer Celebrity Lift is the next generation Face Lift that offers the following:

1. Much smaller, well camouflaged incisions that are 1/4 the length of more traditional Face Lift incisions.
2. Incisions do not go into scalp so hair loss is not experienced from incisions within the hair as may occur with
traditional Face Lifts, including some S-lifts, Mid Face Lifts and others.
3. Less invasive… The Palmer Celebrity Lift is a highly focused yet smaller area of tissue
dissection resulting in less area within which bruising and swelling can occur compared to traditional Face Lifts.
This results in less bruising, swelling and recovery time that can be measured in hours and days instead of weeks
and months as is the case with more invasive traditional Face Lifts.
4. Patients can fly home to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and across the US in as little as 3 days following
The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift versus 7-10 days with traditional Face Lifts.
5. The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift undermines, lifts, elevates and sutures the underlying SMAS
layer instead of merely lifting or folding the SMAS with sutures or barbed threads that must rely on keeping their
two-point fixation intact for the SMAS tyo stay lifted….should the threads or sutures come loose…the SMAS will
simply unfold and go back to its sagged position. This is why Dr Palmer does not use or recommend any type of
suture/thread suspension face Lift procedure. The Face Lift must, in Dr Palmer’s opinion, dissection, trim, lift
and re-suture the SMAS (muscle) layer for the effects of the Face Lift to last.
6. The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift combines SMAS tightening with excess skin and fat removal
combined with shaping of the cheeks, chin and jaw using either Cheek Implants, Chin Implants or fillers like Perlane, Radiesse, Sculptra, Restylane, Juvederm, Botox or Dysport. Just how the cheeks, chin, jaw and the Lips are shaped are based on Dr Palmer’s new book on the aesthetics of what makes us beautiful “What’s Your Number…the palmer code” available at Amazon.com Of course other plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures like Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants, Rhinoplasty, Eyelid Surgery, Brow Lifts and even Tummy Tucks can be done at the same time.
7. Because The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift is designed to do all the above….it can be performed under local, IV sedation or a general anesthesia in 90 minutes or less.

If you’re looking to be more naturally beautiful, as a woman or more ruggedly handsome as a man…The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift might just be the answer. You may have to travel to see Dr Francis Palmer in Beverly Hills but the journey is a small price to pay for the expertise, quality and impeccable aesthetic judgment that you will receive. All Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons are NOT created equal… How To Choose Your Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”
Dr Palmer in the media
Dr Palmer Media Continued
Patient Testimonials

If you’re considering fillers and wrinkle softening treatments here are a few suggestions for you to consider:

Botox, Dysport, Radiesse, Perlane, Sculptra and Juvederm are the same no matter what plastic and cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist you choose to administer the treatment. There is no inherent magic in the fillers or neourotoxins (Botox, Dysport) themselves…these materials don’t possess smart technology to ensure that they are placed in the right just the right amount to give you the very best aesthetic results. If yu think about this logically, it makes sense. Using Botox, Dysport, Perlane, Radiesse, Juvederm or Sculptra is an art in and of itself. It requires a level of skill, training and experience, so do not use price as your determining factor of where and by whom you receive these treatments. If you want the best, top results you’ll have to pay a reasonable fee. Period. It’s a great idea for you to learn the basic aesthetic principles that will make you more attractive which I have done for you in my new book “What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”“>”What’s Your Number…the palmer code” available at Amazon.com.

Here are some uses, we have for the neurotoxins and various fillers: These procedures are done as an office visit in 10-15 minutes with minimal discomfort or downtime. Patients fly here from all over the world for these treatments and are allowed to fly home the same day.

1. Reduce unwanted wrinkles of the forehead, glabella (between the brows), Crow’s Feet and around the lips or mouth using either Botox or Dysport. I like to have my patients receive a full treatment as a booster 1 month from the initial treatment for added effect. Once that’s done, the Botox or Dysport treatments can be done every 4-6 months to maintain the results.

2. Elevate the corners of the mouth or eyebrows. Botox or Dysport can be used to elevate the corners of the mouth or the tail of the eyebrows.

3. Botox and Dysport can be used to reduce unwanted areas of enlarged facial muscles around the mouth or nose (“nasal srunching”).

4. Shape the Cheeks, Chin or Jawline using fillers like Perlane or Radiesse. Allows your face to look more youthful, feminine and naturally beautiful as a woman or more angular and ruggedly handsome if you’re a man. All in 10-15 minutes with the results lasting about 6 -12 months depending on which filler is used. We do use Cheek and Chin Implants to permanently enhance the Cheeks and Chin for men and women but I have been hesitant over the past 20+ years as a Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon to use Mandible (Jaw) implants because of he risks and possible complication associated with those implants, so the fillers offer a safe and viable alternative for people who require jaw enhancement IMHO. Because Radiesse is a thicker molecule there’s a bit more swelling and lumpiness with this than after Perlane IMO so we prefer to use Perlane the first time our patients have fillers to shape the face and in all cases where our patients have an important event, like a red carpet, appearance that night or the following day.

5. Plump up the lips, using the proper aesthetic proportion outlined in my book, using Juvederm.

6. Fill out the Nasolabial (NLF) folds or Marionette Lines using a variety of fillers. Juvederm for superficial (folds not too deep), Perlane and Sculptra for deeper folds. Radiesse can show as a stiff line within the fatty tissues in some patients and should be sued only when the folds are very deep IMO.

7. Sculptra is excellent to fill out hollows or depressions in the face, temples or hands. Sculptra is a staged type of treatment where the patient receives an initial treatment and then is treated again in approximately 8 weeks for a full correction. Some times a third treatment is required. The good news is that Sculptra, unlike the other fillers, causes your body to make its own collagen and the results last up to 2 years. I do not use Sculptra to create shape in the cheeks, chin and jawline as I feel the larger molecules of Perlane and Radiesse are better adapted for that purpose.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Dr Palmer on TV

Dr Palmer in the Media

Patient Testimonials

When trends become mainstream, they can and often are taken too far. Remember Twiggy and the thin craze? How about the Waffe-look that plagued Hollywood leading ladies to the point even the star-crazed media cried “foul”? All of these are examples of a trend gone wrong. The quest for ever simplier, less invasive ways to make yourself look more youthful and attractive is no different. As the article points out, patients not interested in the large, more invasive traditional Facelifts kept seeking less and less invasive procedures until the results became un-aesthetic. Dermatologists were preaching “who needs surgery, you can just plump up the face with all sorts of fillers that are placed in all sorts of areas of the face”… While a little, or should we say the correct amount of Botox, Radiesse, Perlane, Restylane, Juvederm or Sculptra can create a wonderful aesthetic improvement in the face….more doesn’t equate with more aesthetic results and some people’s faces looked like “puffer fish” all swollen, round and puffy.

The message here is clear. Use fillers in a reasonable manner to create shape to the cheeks, chin and or jawline as well as filling the nasolabial folds, jowls and marrionette lines. Use a minimally invasive face lift procedure like our “Palmer Celebrity Lift” to tighten a loose muscle (SMAS or Platysma) layer and remove excess subcutaneous fat and skin. Combining the two techniques, or using Cheek Implants/Chin Implants is the appropriate way for your face to maintain a soft, naturally beautiful shape and appearance.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Dr Palmer in the media
Dr Palmer in media
Dr Palmer tv appearances
patient testimonials

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

I think everyone would answer “the results” obtained by using the fillers. More specifically, this means, the ultimate shape of the face and lips after the Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm was injected.

In order to obtain the desired, aesthetic shape the plastic and cosmetic surgeon has to know what aesthetic shape is ideally attractive in a nam or a woman. Yes, they are different and no, we as plastic and cosmetic surgeons are not taught, during training, what is or is not a beautiful face because no-one until now has even defined what makes a face beautiful. Silly as it may seem, millions of people all over the world are undergoing plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments, including fillers to shape the face and lips without the understanding of what they are trying to accomplish…which is a more attractive face! Worse yet, the plastic and cosmetic surgeon may not have understanding of the same issue.

Fillers like Radiesse, Perlane and Juvederm Ultra XC are fantastic at augmenting and shaping the cheeks, chin, jawline and even the nose but if placed in the wrong place or in the wrong amount can create a mis-shapen face. Juvederm in the lips can give a beautiful, soft pouty look to the lips if done correctly but when it’s not…the result can be “fish-mouth” which is hardly attractive. So, the question remains: “how do you get the best, top results from your fillers?” Simple, choose a plastic and cosmetic surgeon that can show you he/she understands the aesthetics of facial beauty as outined in my new book which defines the subject “What’s Your Number….the palmer code”

If you want the “Best”, “Top” results, don’t have Rhinoplasty, Face Lift, Eyelid surgery, Rhinoplasty, Cheek Implants, Chin Implant, Breast Augmentation with Implants, Botox, Radiesse, Perlane, Juvederm or any other plastic and cosmetic surgery or procedure until you know what does and does not make your face more attractive.

Trust me, buying this book is the best money you’ll ever spend on yourself. The only way to get the “best”, “top” results is to follow the principles, of “What’s Your Number” and “The Palmer Code” describing beauty and its component parts. That’s what we have done in Beverly Hills (Los Angeles) and in London over and over for more than 2 decades. If a celebrity looks good after plastic and cosmetic surgery, these principles were follwed. When celebrity plastic surgery looks hideous, these principles were ignored.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”