So many people complain of dark circles under their eyes, in particular, in this geographic area as seasonal allergies render almost no remission of this problem. In fact, there has been, heretofore, no solution to this difficult problem, until a certain filler was modified for this purpose. Restylane is well suited to be placed carefully just beneath the skin, forming a layer to hide the dark, highly vascular muscle, beneath. With proficiency and expert technique, this filler does the job that nature forgot. In fact, the job is so well done that your lower lids never return to the thin-skinned pre-treatment state. There is always some product left to thicken the skin and treat the problem. That is not to say that there need be no repeats; in about 6 months more may be needed to restore the original correction.

In my practice, I see many patients, men and women, in their 20’s and older, who are very effected by the appearance of dark circles. Not everyone will receive a near perfect result, as in our photos, but given the proper selection and indications, these results should be typical. It is especially important to select a well-trained, experienced plastic surgeon who can document results you would like to achieve. Although this procedure is small, relative to surgery, it is very important to your appearance and self-confidence.

Now compare the results of the filler added to a 31 year old male who was constantly being accused of looking tired, with a 42 year old female for whom I performed a lower lid surgery of removing fat and tightening the skin and muscle. Her complaints were the exact same as his, but her problems were entirely different. She had bulging orbital fat, while he had a vacant, sunken orbital contour. It really takes an expert to diagnose the problem and then to render treatment. That is why it is so important to take the time to interview your surgeon and to establish a relationship. You may find that there are other areas of your appearance that you would like to change and with a good relationship, you will have no problem coming to a wise decision for your future. I like to think of my patients being with my practice for their entire lifetime. Even if many years elapse, when it is time to make a change you always have someone you trust with whom you will consult. I take a full hour conversing with any patient considering a procedure, even as small as filler. Both you and I benefit from getting to know each other in moving forward to the most attractive you that is possible.

The tangible benefit to plastic surgery is the removal of visible barriers to your ability to see yourself as beautiful and talented with valuable gifts to develop and offer the world. It brings me great joy to keep in touch with my patients, as they move through their lives, shining with their brilliant contributions.

Please contact Annapolis Aesthetic Surgery for more information on treatments to improve the appearance of dark circles under the eyes and other conditions.

Annapolis Plastic Surgeon Offers Inside Tips

At her Annapolis plastic surgery practice, Dr. Marcia Ormsby discusses the difference between two surgical cosmetic enhancement procedures. Liposuction and abdominoplasty both focus on slimming and contouring a patient’s body; however, Dr. Ormsby says the two procedures are very different, and require specific sets of conditions be present to ensure patient expectations are met.

Dr. Marcia Ormsby is an avid blogger and plastic surgeon in Maryland. She recently posted an in-depth comparison of two body contouring procedures to her blog, in an effort to provide patients with a better understanding of when they should consider liposuction or liposculpture, and when a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty would be a better fit for her patient’s cosmetic enhancement goals.

When liposuction is being considered, Dr. Ormsby says the skin of the abdomen must be healthy with good elasticity. “When stretch marks are prevalent, there is indication that the skin is badly damaged. It will not contract and respond favorably to liposuction alone.” However, she adds that when the skin is healthy, aesthetic enhancement results can be very satisfying and spare patients the recovery and downtime of a more invasive procedure such as the tummy tuck.

A number of Dr. Ormsby’s patients that consider a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty are women hoping to address the effects of pregnancy on the body. She says this is due to the stretching of the abdominal wall through pregnancy, which negatively impacts the musculature and affects its ability to support the internal structures and causes a protuberance to appear. However, Dr. Ormsby says the patient can often benefit from muscle repair by permanently attaching the two central muscles in the abdomen, which causes a flattening of the belly and a reduction in waist circumference. Once the muscles are repaired, the excess skin is removed resulting in a permanent, toned, contoured figure.

While both procedures are capable of creating a slimmer, more contoured body, Dr. Ormsby says diet and exercise are necessary components to the continued success and slimmer physique initially created through liposuction or abdominoplasty. She adds that following a good diet and exercise program before the procedure and six weeks after will often prove very helpful. “The better toned the muscle, the more favorable the repair. The best results are found in the person who is fit and properly nourished prior to surgery.” For those patients, Dr. Ormsby says cosmetic enhancement results should last a lifetime.

About Marcia Ormsby, MD

Dr. Marcia Ormsby earned her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. She then completed her general surgery residency at the State University of New York, and her specialty training at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Ormsby has delivered talks around the U. S., is a prolific writer on the topic of Women’s Health, and an active lobbyist for issues affecting women’s health.

Annapolis Aesthetic Surgery is located at 116 Defense Hwy., Suite 500, Annapolis, MD 21401, and can be reached at (410) 224-1144, or found online at aasurgery.com or facebook.com/aasurgery.

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Liposuction or Abdominoplasty: That is the Question

The female abdomen is a very special anatomical area; not only is it the focus of body contour in fashion photos, it is the place of procreation, reproduction and the continuation of the family tree. Women exercise, measure and evaluate their abdomen regularly upon dressing and shopping for new clothes. It is not surprising that the shape of the abdomen is addressed during almost half of all new patient consultations with the plastic surgeon. Changes may occur with pregnancy, with weight gain and loss, and with any abdominal surgery, which may disrupt the muscular balance and alignment.

Most women store fat in the abdominal wall, which is the space between the skin and the muscles. This fat is particularly unattractive because it effects the waist to hip ratio. Some of us, particularly men, store fat within the abdomen in a structure called the omentum or around the abdominal organs, themselves. The omentum is a fatty apron, which protects and encloses the bowels. Fat in the abdominal wall is amenable to liposuction or liposculpture, but the internal fat is not correctable with plastic surgery. The plastic surgeon must make the distinction between the two fatty placements as a very important diagnostic requirement prior to body contouring surgery. In that regard, post-operative expectations can more realistically be determined and achieved.

When liposuction or liposculpture alone is being considered, the skin of the abdomen must be healthy, with good elasticity. When stretch marks are prevalent, there is indication that the skin has been badly damaged. It will not contract and respond favorably to liposuction alone. However, when the proper indications are met, and the skin is relatively healthy, the results can be very satisfying, sparing the extensive surgery of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.

After the female abdominal wall has been stretched through pregnancy or opened during surgery, very often, the musculature does not adequately support the internal structures, or the back, and a protuberance (pooch) is noted. In the time following the child-bearing years, often the patient can benefit from muscle repair by permanently attaching the two, central, rectus muscle bellies together. Thereby a flattening of the abdomen is achieved and the waist is reduced in circumference. After these muscles are surgically repaired, the excess skin is removed, resulting in a scar around the umbilicus and in the lower abdomen, often from right hip bone to left hip bone. This surgical process is termed an abdominoplasty and results in a permanent repair of the floppy belly. Most patients will benefit from a good diet and exercise program before and six weeks after abdominal surgery. The better toned, the muscle, the more favorable the repair.

Of course, diet and exercise alone, can greatly improve the abdominal contour, but in those patients whose muscles are severely stretched or have been detached, exercise will not fix the problem. In fact, sometimes, the muscle connections can tear, resulting in a hernia, or weakness, which allows the bowel to protrude through the abdominal wall. Once this defect forms, a surgical repair is necessary to correct the problem. If the repair is performed by a general surgeon, often an abdominoplasty can be offered in conjunction. Regardless of the approach, the best results are found in the person who is fit and properly nourished prior to surgery. The results should last a life time!

MARCIA V. ORMSBY, MD

The most recent report from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) shows 1.3% of the 9.3 million procedures performed in 2010 were on patients 18 and younger. In a new post, Dr. Marcia Ormsby discusses the benefits of cosmetic enhancement as it specifically applies to her younger patients at her Maryland plastic surgery practice, along with the benefits patients in their twenties often experience. While rejuvenating a youthful appearance is a common desire, Dr. Ormsby says younger patients are more often concerned with facial symmetry and balance, which is typically achieved with an otoplasty or rhinoplasty.

The latest study from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) finds more than 9.3 million cosmetic enhancement procedures were performed in 2010. Of this total, roughly 1.3% were performed for patients 18 and younger, with nearly 20% performed for patients aged 19-34. While this demographic in the aesthetic healthcare practice is uncommon, Maryland plastic surgeon Dr. Marcia Ormsby recently addressed the benefits of cosmetic enhancement for patients in their twenties or younger on her website.

Dr. Ormsby says cosmetic enhancement for this age group is highly effective and reliable despite the smaller number of procedures performed. She adds that procedures such as an otoplasty or rhinoplasty in Maryland at her Annapolis plastic surgery practice often have a tremendous impact on this age group. “Most of the corrections for these problems are relatively simple; they are safe and predictable. In so many instances, a small change produces a major improvement in appearance and self-confidence.”

Dr. Ormsby recently performed a rhinoplasty for a 19 year-old female patient with a large, deviated nose. In addition to the aesthetic enhancement of her appearance, Dr. Ormsby says she also discussed further benefits and responsibilities with this patient, including preventative skin care to avoid premature aging, and adopting a healthy diet to ease recovery from surgery. She adds that the confidence and poise her younger patients pursue life with following a cosmetic enhancement procedure is astonishing. “The tangible benefit to plastic surgery is the removal of a visible barrier to a patient’s ability to see themselves as beautiful and talented, with valuable gifts to develop and offer the world.”

About Marcia V. Ormsby, MD

Dr. Marcia Ormsby earned her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. She then completed her general surgery residency at the State University of New York, and her specialty training at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, and Memorial Kettering Cancer.

Annapolis Aesthetic Surgery is located at 116 Defense Hwy, Suite 500, Annapolis, MD 21401, and can be reached at (410) 224-1144, or found online at aasurgery.com or facebook.com/aasurgery.

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It is very curious, that the young would come to the plastic surgeon, who is known to perform rejuvenation surgery. Appearing youthful is indeed important, but really, it is quite clear that we all do wish to appear healthy, fit, toned and most importantly more attractive – handsome or beautiful. The very particular way that applies to those in their 20’s and even younger, is to consider facial balance and symmetry. A child with a large nose, protruding ears or acne skin eruptions, may be teased mercilessly, and may be building a negative self-concept leaving this child socially marred. Most of the corrections for these problems are relatively simply; they are safe and predictable. In so many instances, a small change produces a major improvement in appearance and self-confidence.

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Below a 19 year old patient is seen before and 6 months after rhinoplasty for correction of her large, deviated nose.

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In my practice, I see many patients in their 20’s who are terribly affected by their appearance. They are very often accompanied by a parent who renders compassion and support for their child’s concerns. A large nose, most often is the focus of the appointment. It may, however be that their protruding ears have prevented them from a sporting activity or wearing their hair short or pulled back. One very important aspect of this consultation is the establishment of a relationship with the plastic surgeon. The motivation to proceed with surgery needs exploration to ensure good intentions of self-improvement, not desires to please a parent or a friend, or to impress others with the ability to have surgery.

Once completed, this surgery is often no less than life changing. The confidence and poise with which I see my patients enter the next phase of their lives, is truly remarkable. One patient dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but her ears prevented her from tying her hair back. Once fixed, this young lady proceeded to secure a successful career in dance.

Other benefits include:

• Introducing an excellent daily skin care regime preventing early aging changes
• Preventing sun damage and potentially skin cancer
• Ensuring a healthy diet in recovery from surgery and throughout life
• Establishing an exercise routine to maintain good circulation and excellent form

The tangible benefit to plastic surgery is the removal of a visible barrier to your ability to see yourself as beautiful and talented, with valuable gifts to develop and offer the world. It brings me great joy to keep in touch with my patients, as they move into adulthood, shinning like stars with their brilliant contributions.