The eyes account for a large part of the expression of the human face; they project an array of emotions including happiness, sorrow and fear. Yet the eyes themselves are virtually expressionless structures. It is the contour of the skin – the tissue, muscle, fat, hair and lashes around the eyes – that conveys expression. Wrinkles and deep lines as well as puffiness of the lids begin to develop with the passage of time. Exposure to the sun and genetic predisposition can also be contributing factors. The result can be marked changes in expression causing a tired and/or older appearance. These physical changes can produce anxiety and actual visual impairment. Today, several remarkable surgical techniques, including eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), forehead and eye brow lift, have been developed to eliminate many of these problems.

Blepharoplasty can correct sagging eyelids, pouches beneath the eyes and excess folds around the eyes. This surgical procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fat on upper and lower eyelids and can be done in conjunction with other surgical procedures including facelift, eyebrow and forehead lift.

Eyebrow and forehead lifts are designed to raise eyebrows and reduce ridges and furrows on the forehead, thus creating a smoother, more youthful appearance. As with blepharoplasty, this procedure is frequently done in conjunction with other surgeries.

Before Surgery

Prior to surgery, a complete medical history is taken in order to evaluate the general health of the patient. A thorough examination of the eye and face is made to determine the most effective surgical approach. The amount, distribution and type of excess skin to be removed is carefully noted. D. Sandhu describes the anesthesia to be used, the procedure, what results might realistically be expected, and possible risks and complications. An examination by an ophthalmologists may be recommended. Preoperative directions may include the elimination of certain drugs containing aspirin in order to minimize the possibility of increased bleeding. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a few days prior to surgery to prevent infection. The areas to be excised are marked and photographs are usually taken before an after surgery in order to evaluate the final results.

Blepharoplasty Surgical Procedure

Blepharoplasty is preformed in Dr. Sandhu’s office, it is done under local anesthesia in which the area is numbed and the patient remains awake. Prior to surgery, premedication to relax the patient is administered.

The surgeon, following natural lines and creases, makes very fine incisions from the inner to the outer edge of the eyelid. The upper eyelid is worked on first with the incision made in the fold of the lid. On the lower eyelid, the incision is made directly below the eyelash. Excess fat and skin are then removed from the underlying compartments. The amount of fat excised is determined by the degree of protrusion of fat when pressure is gently applied to the area. Small sutures are used to close the incision and special ointments and dressings may be applied. The procedure can take from two-three hours. Depending upon the extent of the surgery.

Forehead and Eyebrow Lift Surgery

A forehead and eyebrow lift is preformed in the office setting using a local anesthesia. An incision is made across the top of the head from the front of one ear to the front of the other ear. The incision is made deep within the frontal hairline in order to hide the resulting scar. The forehead and eyebrows are elevated and excess skin is removed. The flap is then sutured.

Following Eye Surgery

Antibiotics may be continued for several days following these eye surgeries. Sutures are removed within a week. Some swelling and bruising occur but subside in few days. The physician may prescribe ice compresses and/or eye exercises to reduce swelling and regain mobility. Women may be allowed to use eye makeup ten days to two weeks after surgery but are cautioned to cleanse the area thoroughly after each use. The physician determines when normal activities can be resumed; however, strenuous exercise must be avoided for several weeks following surgery.

After blepharoplasty, excessive drying of the eyes can occur, but this condition can be alleviated with medications. There may be sensitivity to bright light and wind in which case the use of dark sunglasses are indicated. Sensory changes such as numbness and itching may occur during the healing process. Final evaluation may not be possible for several months following surgery. Complications connected with brow and forehead lift are relatively few and minor; however, there are certain inherent risks connected with every surgical procedure which should be thoroughly discussed with the physician. Patients can minimize complications by carefully following directions given by the physician.

Will Insurance Pay for this Surgery?

Some insurance companies will pay part or all of the costs of surgery if it is performed as a result of visual impairment. Each insurance carrier is different, and it is recommended that individuals check with their own agents to determine if there is coverage.

back to top

Click here to see brochore and learn more.

Now there is a better solution for unwanted hair…

As a man or a woman, you may already know that just about your entire body is covered with hair. Some is coarse and dark, and some is so fine and pale that it isn’t visible to the naked eye. Humans, in fact have more hair follicles per square inch than most higher primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas.

Shaving or trimming your beard and mustache are regular grooming tasks you’re used to. But what you may not like is that bothersome excess hair on your back, shoulders, chest, around the ears, or between the eyebrows that seems to grow back faster than you can pluck or shave it. Or perhaps you’re a competitive athlete for whom regular shaving of body hair is a tedious chore.

Now may be the time to consider hair removal with the LightSheer™ Diode Laser.

Understanding hair removal

In the past, the usual remedies for unwanted hair were plucking, shaving, waxing, or chemical depilatories. Some are painful, some are messy, and all are only temporary.

For long-term hair removal, electrolysis is popular and effective but can be uncomfortable and slow. Hair by hair, an electric current passes through a needle to destroy the hair root’s ability to grow. It typically takes months or more of regular visits – even for small areas, like between your eyebrows.

Now there’s more effective solution, the new LightSheer Diode Laser, a state-of-the-art system specially designed to remove unwanted hair faster, with less discomfort, and more reliably than many other methods.

Understanding laser treatment

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light. The color of light produced by a particular laser is one of the keys to its effect on hair follicles.

The light emitted by the LightSheer Diode Laser is well absorbed by the pigment located in hair follicles. The laser pulses for fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling numerous follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair’s growth.

Importantly, LightSheer’s special contact-cooling hand-piece is perfect for your skin. It protects and cools the upper layer of the skin before, during, and after each pulse while directing the laser energy to the hair root. The combination of this aggressive skin cooling and other key laser parameters allows safe and effective treatment of all skin colors.
What you can expect

The length of a laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment may be required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase.

The laser treatment itself can cause a slight tingling sensation. Most patients tolerate the procedure well. But because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia can be an option.

The appearance of the treated area immediately after a laser session will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment and skin type. Immediate after-effects, if any, are minor. They may include redness and swelling, which disappear in a short time. Most people return to normal activity right away. We will be happy to tell you more about your treatment and what you can expect during your consultation.

We’re here to help

LightSheer™ Diode Laser – the world’s most advanced treatment for effective removal of unwanted hair. Great news for men and women, young or old, who want to get rid of excess hair. Depending on your needs, most body areas can be treated with this state-of-the-art technology.

Ask us about the LightSheer Diode Laser and how we can use it to remove unwanted excess hair.

Hair’s active growth phase is called anagen. During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin.

Catagen is the regression phase when the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed.

The resting phase is called telogen, during which the older hair falls out in preparation for the development of new hair.

back to top

Laser Tattoo Removal

Click here...

Fat transplantation, may be performed in a physicians office or in an outpatient surgical setting, usually under local anesthesia. Both the donor site (area from which fat is taken) and the recipient site (area to be treated) are anesthetized. A needle attached to a syringe, is inserted into the donor site in a location which has a thick layer of fat such as the thigh or buttocks. Depending on the procedure, the syringe may or may not be attached to a high power suction device. Fat cells, which are aspirated or drawn into the syringe, are carefully reinjected into the recipient site. The process is repeated until the desired amount of fat has been transferred or the defect corrected. A pressure bandage is applied to the donor site and sometimes to the recipient site to prevent blood clots and swelling.

Patients are up and around the day of surgery. The physician, however, must determine when normal activities can be resumed, based on the extent of surgery and the patient’s healing process.

There is minimal pain connected with the procedure and any discomfort is controlled with medications.

Because the fat is transplanted within the same body, problems of rejection or allergic reaction are not factors. Scarring from the injections are minimal, because they are made within the creases of the body whenever possible are rare, patients should discuss possible risks with the physician prior to surgery. In every case, careful adherence to the physician’s instructions will minimize complication.

If you are interested in learning more about autologous fat transplantation, please call our office and we will be happy to answer you questions.

back to top

Spider veins or telangiectasias of the legs are a common problem that particularly affect women. Small purple, blue or red veins can form anywhere on the leg, from the top of the thigh to the ankle, and can sometimes occur on the face as well. These veins appear as connected lines resembling a sunburst or spider web pattern or short, unconnected lines. On many people, they are relatively inconspicuous, because they are confined to a small area; however, some people become distressed when larger areas of skin are affected and the veins become more noticeable.

Varicose veins are larger, sometimes raised veins which are often blue in color. These are not the deep veins connected with valve system; however, they can become quite painful, producing a burning or throbbing sensation. Although these superficial varicose veins and spider veins carry blood, neither are necessary to the circulatory system.

Today, because of modern technology, both telangiectasias and superficial varicose veins can be treated through a procedure call sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a technique which involves the use of a very fine needle to inject a solution causes the blood within the vein to disappear or become less obvious.

Before Treatment

Prior to treatment, a complete medical history is taken and a thorough examination made in order to determine, among other things, how long the problem has existed, the severity of the symptoms, whether or not the condition is affected by physical activity and there has been prior surgery or treatment of the veins. The physician determines if the deep venous system is affected, in which case surgery may be recommended before sclerotheraphy is undertaken. Preoperative instructions may include the elimination of certain drugs which contain aspirin in order to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding. Dr. Sandhu decides whether or not the area to be treated should be shaved. The veins are usually marked while the patient is in a standing position.

Sclerotheraphy Treatment

Larger veins are usually treated first. After the skin is thoroughly cleansed with alcohol, the physician uses a syringe with a tiny needle to inject a small amount of sclerosing (hardening) solution directly into a vein. The solution displaces the blood within the vein, causing it to blanch and turn white. The solution then causes the vessel to become irritated and swell shut, prohibiting the blood from returning to the vein. When the needle is withdrawn, pressure is immediately applied to the area. The skin may be kneaded to help disperse the solution and reduce bruising. Each vein may require several injections and most disappear in two months.

Following Treatment

Patients who have had sclerotheraphy have reported little discomfort. Some experience a slight to moderate burning sensation immediately after the injection, but this disappears within a few seconds. An ointment to soothe the skin and relieve the burning may be used, and a pressure bandage may be applied to prevent post-injection bleeding. Some physicians prefer elastic stockings; others use compression bandage.

Patients are usually advised to resume normal activity immediately, although vigorous activity is discouraged because it increases the blood flow through other veins. Elevation of the legs is justly not recommended unless veins have been treated.

Most patients experience no adverse effects; however, some minor side effects have been reported. These include slight blistering which occurs when small amounts of the solution seep into the surrounding areas. These spots usually resolve in time or respond to treatment with bleaching agents.

Bruising around the treated area, which eventually disappears, can result if the veins are unusually weak. Fair skinned people tend to bruise more than do dark skinned people. Clots sometimes develop at the site of the injection. Although not a major cause for concern, it may be necessary to remove these clots within two weeks in order to allow the healing process to progress normal.

A small percentage of patients of patients develop a network of tiny, pink vessels that turn white when pressure is applied. This condition, referred to as “matte telangiectasia” usually disappears without treatment; however, injection treatment may be necessary in some cases. Occasionally, there are allergic reactions to the solution which are treated immediately with antihistamines and other medications.

In some cases, spider veins recur and new spider veins present themselves. When large veins are treated, wearing support hose is recommended to prevent their recurrence.

What causes spider veins and varicose veins?

No one has determined fro certain why some people are affected with spider veins and varicose veins and others are not; however, some families seem predisposed to the condition. Trauma to the leg in the form of blows or falls may contribute to the formation of these veins, and long periods of standing or sitting may also be causative factors. More women than men seem to develop this condition, perhaps as a result of pregnancy or because of hormones. Scientists have not discovered any clear-cut methods to prevent the onset of these telangiectasias, although some authorities believe that the use of support hose, weight control and exercise may be beneficial.

Today, thousands of people who have felt self-conscious or embarrassed by unsightly veins are delighted with the results they are getting from sclerotheraphy treatment. Most patients experience from 60% to 80% improvement, although final results may not apparent for several months.

If you are interested in learning more about sclerothereraphy, please contact our office and we will be happy to answer your questions.

back to top

Instant and long-lasting wrinkle correction.

Q. What is Restylane®?
A. Restylane is safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.

Q. What is Restylane made of?
A. Restylane is the first and only cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is a crystal-clear gel called NASHA™, OR Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic acid. NASHA is biodegradable and completely biocompatible with hyaluronic acid.

Q. How is Restylane different than other hyaluronic acid-based products?
A. Unlike other hyaluronic acid-based products, such as those made from rooster combs, only Restylane is non-animal-based. This quality virtually eliminates any risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction.

Q. What should patients do prior to treatment?
A. Restylane requires no pretesting, but you should take a few precautions before being treated. Avoid using aspirin, no-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements prior to treatment, because these may increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another recurrence.

The answer to long-lasting wrinkle correction is Restylane®. If you’re considering a wrinkle correction treatment, there are a few things you should know about Restylane.

Q. Is Restylane safe?
A. Yes. Restylane has been used safely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 1996 worldwide. Because Restylane is not-animal-based and fully biocompatible, allergy testing is not required. There is virtually no risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. The most commonly reported side effects were temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects typically resolve within two to three days.

Q. Can Restylane be used anywhere on the face?
A. Restylane has been used in more than one million treatments in over 60 countries to correct a variety of wrinkles and to enhance the appearance and fullness of lips. However, it is currently indicated in the U.S. only for the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.

Q. How long does Restylane® last?
A. Studies have shown that the average treatment results last six months or even longer. The unique NASHA™ technology helps maintain the cosmetic effect until the injected material is nearly gone.

Q. How often should I have Restylane treatments done?
A. Restylane lasts twice as long as collagen, so treatments are typically scheduled twice a year. Evidence shows that having a touch-up treatment before the product has fully dissipated will enhance the lasting effect.

Q. How is Restylane different from Botox®?
A. Restylane is a natural, cosmetic filler. In contrast, Botox is a drug that blocks verve transmission and relaxes the underlying muscles. Many patients have been very pleased after receiving treatment with both products.

Q. How is Restylane different from bovine collagen?
A. Restylane is proven to deliver a longer-lasting effect than traditional collagen, with virtually no risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. In addition, bovine collagen is derived from animals (cow) and requires an allergy test. Because Restylane is non-animal-based, it can be administered without pretesting, so no waiting is required.

Beauty is now far less fleeting than previously thought.

Q. Do the infections hurt?
A. Restylane® is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by an ultra fine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. The procedure is simple and convenient, and results are practically instantaneous. TO optimize your comfort during the short procedure, your physician may anesthetize the treatment area.

Q. How much do Restylane treatments cost?
A. Restylane is a customized procedure based on your specific needs, so the cost will vary from patient to patient. In general, the cost of Restylane is comparable to the cost of similar procedures. Because Restylane is longer lasting, it proves to be very economical over the long term. Please consult your physician to determine the best recommendation for your particular needs.

Restylane maintains its shape using the body’s own moisture. So perhaps it’s not surprising that the most basic element of natural beauty, water, holds the key to the long-lasting results you can expect.

Q. Who is Medicis Aesthetics™?
A. Medics Aesthetics is a subsidiary of Medicis®, a well-established dermatology company dedicated to clear and beautiful skin.

The wait is over. Now that you have the answers to some important questions, why wait? Restylane® is a safe, natural formulation, so there are no delays for allergy testing prior to treatment. The simple procedure can be done during your lunch hour. And the effects are immediate.

If you want to enjoy a smoother, more youthful appearance for the next six months, or even longer, ask your physician if Restylane® is right for you. For further details about Restylane, including product information, visit www.RestylaneUSA.com.

back to top

* Note: In addition, please note that all surgery and procedures carry some uncertainty and risk, including the possibility of infection, bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by choosing a qualified physician and closely following his or her advice, both before and after surgery.