Nip This Tuck That

It’s a new year, new decade and it might be the right time for you to look younger and more attractive. I developed The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift as a minimally invasive, minimal incision version of a more traditional Facelift. The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift can be performed in 90 minutes, or less…with or without general anesthesia. The secret is the manipulation, lifting and tightening of the muscle layer (SMAS) that we combine with shaping of the midface using either Cheek Implants, Chin Implants, Radiesse Injections, Perlane Injections, Restylane Injections, Juvederm Injections or Botox Injections. Midface shaping is the most commonly overlooked area of facial rejuvenation, in my humble opinion. Our patients fly home to Europe, Middle East and Asia several days after their facelift instead of the 10-14 days that’s required with more traditional facelifts. The Palmer Celbrity Face Lift has minimal postop bruising and swelling because of the limited tissue dissection. This means you won’t have the lumps and bumps that can be associated with traditional facelifts for up to 12 months postop. Easy, quick and effective….The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift is the answer for those wishing to look their best right now today.

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

If you have 10 minutes, you can have fuller, more aesthetically pleasing cheeks. Cheek Implants are the permanent solution for people seeking Cheek Augmentation or Enhancement but for those not wanting Cheek Implants fillers can be used to shape the cheeks using Perlane or Radiesse.

In as little as 10 minutes the cheeks can be re-shaped into a more attractive manner. There is minimal swelling and bruising, especially using Perlane and the results can last between 8-12 months.

It’s not uncommon, in my 20 plus years of experience as a Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon that people have just an area, of their cheeks, that need augmentation and enhancement. In these types of cases Cheek Implants are not the solution while fillers are perfectly suited to allow pinpoint modification of the cheeks.

Dr Francis Palmer

If you have wrinkles that you’d like softened with Botox or Dysport injections or are looking for fillers to add volume to or shape the face using Collagen, Restylane, Juvederm, Sculptra, Perlane or Radiesse…you have multiple options of where you can go. Skin Clinics, Dermatologists, Facial Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Surgeons or Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons.

All these specialists can perform: anti-wrinkle treatments, Facial Rejuvenation using fillers, lip augmentation/enhancement, chemical peels and other aesthetic medical treatments or plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures. Which one is right for you depends on the experience using Botox, Dysport or the various fillers available and the level of aesthetic skill that determines how much and where to use these products. Botox in the wrong place can cause the eyebrows, eyelids or mouth to appear droopy while fillers in the wrong place or in the wrong amount can make the face appear “over filled” or mis-shapen. We have been using Botox to soften wrinkles for over 20 years and have many years experience using the various fillers that are available and approved for use in the US. Most importantly, we understand facial aesthetics…in fact, we wrote the book on the subject “What’s Your Number…the palmer code.”

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

Today’s Wall Street Journal has an article that talks about the growing trend in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery of people becoming more interested in minimally invasive surgical procedures as well as fillers and Botox/Dysport. If you’ve been reading this blog for the past 8 years, or so, you’ll see that we talked about this trend beginning almost 10 years ago. We happened to be honored in the late 1990′s by Tatler magazine naming us as one of the “world’s best” plastic and cosmetic surgeons in general and one of the “world’s best” Face Lift surgeons in particular…one of only two plastic and cosmetic surgeons receiving the coveted distinction in the entire world. I bring this up to highlight the point that I am very familiar with facelifts and the various Face Lift procedures having performed Facelifts for over 20 years both here in my Beverly Hills Surgery Center and in numerous Hospitals in the UK (London) for about 8 years. During that time, I have seen the increasing trend of the public move away from the 55-60 year olds who came in for a Browlift, Upper and lower eyelid lift and full face and neck lift, which was very common in the 1990′s to the 35 year olds who just wanted to start doing smaller, less invasive procedures so they could stop the effects of aging, on their face at a much earlier age. This became the montra of patients in the 2000′s and in 2010 the trend is increasing as the pace, of our lives more ever faster. Who has time for weeks, or months of swelling, bruising or non-activity? Who wants 6-8 hours of a general anesthetic and large or long incisions that are obvious to everyone? Who wants to age until they’re 60, only to have the “full monty” and look completely different after a complete face makeover? Answer: not many which was the jest of the wall street journal article.

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

Botox and Dysport can soften unwanted lines and wrinkles of the Forehead, Glabella (between the eyebrows), Crow’s Feet and around the mouth and lips. Yes, I said the lines around the mouth and lips.

I know that you may have read on the internet, on blogs and message boards or spoken with many Dematologists or Plastic and Cosmetic surgeons that told you that Botox or Dysport could not be injected around the mouth because it would prohibit the mouth from working properly but that has not our experience.

For over 15 years we have used Botox and more recently have added Dysport as a safe and reliable means of softening and reducing unwanted lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

We have patients that fly to Beverly Hills, from all over the world, to have us soften these lines with Botox or Dysport. The procedure takes several minutes and the lines remain softened for up to 6 months. The rest of their trip can be spent vacationing here in Los Angeles or they can fly back home the same day.

In my 20 plus years experience using Botox to reduce unwanted lines and wrinkles, I have found the following treatment pattern the most effective: The first visit and initial treatment is followed up with a booster treatment using the same dose of Botox or Dysport approximately 1 month after the initial treatment. This further weakens the offending muscle(s) causing the unwanted lines. The patients are then placed on repeat treatments spaced at 6 month intervals.

Below are some pictures, from a course that I gave on Botox Injection techniques and training, that illustrate the anatomy and muscles that are treated when using Botox or Dysport.

Example of Facial Anatomy

Botox, like all Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery is an ART…be sure you go to someone experienced.

These are only some of the uses for Botox and Botox Cosmetic Injections.

Dr. Francis Palmer outlines how to safely inject Botox Cosmetic to effectively soften and reduce lines of the Forehead, Glabella and Crow’s Feet…the X’s indicate areas for Botox to be injected.

Dr. Francis Palmer shows his advanced Botox techniques using Botox Cosmetic to raise the lateral eyebrow without a browlift. Think of it…a non-surgical way to raise the eyebrows all done as a simple office Botox Treatment.

Botox and Dysport Botox can be used as a treatment to reduce and remove wrinkles…be sure that you get the very best….experience and knowledge does matter…be sure you’re getting real Botox Cosmetic or Dysport and not an imitation.

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

Soft tissue fillers can be used to augment the Cheeks, Chin and Jawline in about 10 minutes as an office treatment using Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm Ultra Plus. What’s important, for you as to remember is that these fillers hold no aesthetic qualities but are merely a tool to create and reflect the artistic aesthetic ability of the plastic and cosmetic surgeon, dermatologist, MD or RN injecting the material. If the injector places the Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm Ultra Plus in the wrong amount or in the wrong area, the desired aesthetic result will not be acheived. So, it becomes important for you to know the proper aesthetic shape of your face including the Cheeks, Chin and Jawline….which is the topic of my new book “What’s Your Number…the plamer code.

Before Radiesse

Before Radiesse

After Radiesse

After Radiesse

Here’s an example of using Radiesse to Augment the Cheeks and create a masculine flare to the jawline.

Aesthetic Improvement After Radiesse Treatment: Cheeks are more prominent…Jawline more defined and flared giving the face a more rugged and handsome appearance.

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

The Best Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Blogs, in my humble opinion, have to be written by the World’s best (top) Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons who actually perform the plastic surgery procedures of which they speak. Having a marketing company write content, on plastic and cosmetic surgery blogs, is like an accountant writing about performing plastic and cosmetic surgery. It’s not their profession and therefore they don’t have the knowledge and expertise that readers should demand. The world wide web is a terrific source of information but on the flip side anyone can post information and you as a reader must be able to trust the expertise of the information you encounter on these blogs. For over 20 years, I have been a Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon so the information that I post on this blog offers insight into not only the amazing field of aesthetic medicine (plastic and cosmetic surgery) but my life within this profession.

Have flat Cheeks, thin lips, weak chin, weak jawline, deep facial folds or unwanted lines and wrinkles of the face/forehead? Why not try the latest soft tissue fillers like Perlane, Radiesse, Sculptra, Juvederm (for the lips), Juvederm Ultra Plus, Botox or Dysport. In about 10 minutes, you can have more shapely cheeks, a stronger chin and jawline, fuller lips, less prominent folds or a smoother forehead…even the lines around the mouth can be softened using Botox or Dysport. Plastic Surgery does remarkable things but I find the finishing touches are achieved using fillers and Botox/Dysport. Routine maintenance with these products allows you to look your very best on a continual basis.

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

Whether you’re in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the US, Europe, Asia or the Middle East….your face ages in a similar fashion. The tissues, of the face, hang on the cheeks. If your cheeks have the proper aesthetic volume and shape, you are not only more attractive but your face ages in a better manner than when the cheeks are flat or hollow. This is a straight forward concept, yet in my 20 + years as a Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon I have spend more time discussing this point than any other in the aesthetic medical field. Honestly, if it wasn’t so fundamentally important to what makes people attractive and naturally youthful, I wouldn’t spend the time and energy hammering home the point. Your Cheeks decide whether or not your face will be seen as young, old, male, female, attractive or less so. It has that type of power and influence over your appearance.

In my new book “What’s Your Number…the palmer code”, I not only share with you my trade secrets about beautiful cheeks but discuss the rest of the features that make the face and body naturally beautiful. But today, let’s stay with the cheeks as they are the number 1 facial beauty feature. Cheeks are ideally shaped and are shaped differently in women versus men. In women, the cheeks are full and round allowing the face to appear oval or heart-shaped. Conversely, in men the cheeks should be short and more narrow allowing the face to appear angular and ruggedly handsome. That’s the starting cheek pattern that should be created whether you use Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm Ultra Plus.

The cheek implants that are the world’s best are the ones that accomplish the proper aesthetic shape…. Fillers can be used to create a similar shape but the plastic and cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist must have the aesthetic eye to place the filler in the appropriate place and in the right amount so that shape is the final outcome. Both cheek implants and fillers can look less than ideal if the basic “What’s Your Number” principles are violated.

Cheek implants are placed through a small incision inside, of the mouth, and the implant is placed under the covering of the bone. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and I have not find it necessary to secure the implant with screws or sutures. It’s the placement that’s key, in my opinion.

Using fillers to augment the cheeks offers instant gratification. An office procedure taking about 10-15 minutes, the fillers give the desired effect right then and there with little to no swelling and bruising. The effects of fillers for cheek augmentation last between 8-12 months depending on the type of filler used. It’s a type of beauty maintenance similar to Botox or Dysport injections.

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

Dr Francis Palmer’s TV appearances:

Our Patient testimonials

Dr Francis Palmer in Newspapers and magazines around the world and media quotes:

One of the reasons that the Palmer Celebrity Facelift may be one of the “World’s Best” Facelifts is it’s ability to deal with not only sagging muscle and skin, of the face, but the excess fatty tissue that often accumulates as the face and neck ages. Excess fat can make it difficult to rejuvenate and shape the face using traditional facelifts. The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift uses micro-liposuction techniques to decrease the excess fat throughout the face and neck resulting in a more youthful, aesthetically shaped face once the underlying SMAS muscle layer is tightened and the excess skin is removed. The face can be further rejuvenated by creating a more attractive cheek shape by using fillers like Perlane, Radisse or Juvederm Ultra or by using Cheek Implants. This mult-stage approach provided by the Palmer Celebrity Face Lift can create a more youthful, naturally attractive face using much smaller incisions, with less tissue dissection which results in less healing time….all in about 90 minutes of surgery time.

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

Radiesse, Perlane and Juvederm are just a few of the fillers that can be injected to shape the face and lips but what makes the outcome, of these fillers, the “best” or “top”?

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.”