Archive for Face

What Happens if I Gain Weight Using Kybella?

by Kyle Song, MD
January 25th, 2016

Dr. Kyle Song Kybella for Double Chin Irvine, CAHave you heard about Kybella, a new treatment designed to help eliminate unwanted chin fat? Approved by the FDA in April of 2015, Kybella has slowly been rolling out to plastic surgery practices across the country.  Song Plastic Surgery of Irvine, California (serving the greater Orange County area) is proud to be among the first practices to offer this innovative treatment to its patients.

Kybella works because it uses deoxycholic acid to break down fat molecules within the chin area.  The acid eats away at submental fat cells, leaving surrounding healthy tissue untouched.  Eventually, the remnants of the destroyed fat cells are removed via the body’s waste processes.  Best of all, results with Kybella may be permanent, meaning you’ll never have to suffer from the embarrassment of a double chin again.

However, there is a caveat with this promise – if you gain weight while using or after using Kybella, your chin fat may return.  This is because Kybella is only effective at destroying existing fat cells – it has no effect  on any fat cells that may form in the future.

If you’re interested in using Kybella, it’s important to come into your Song Plastic Surgery consultation with the following in mind:

  • You plan on undergoing two to four treatments, which is the typical regimen needed to completely eliminate moderate to severe submental fat.
  • You understand that Kybella can’t be used to treat any other fat deposits within the body; it’s only be approved by the FDA for the treatment of chin fat.
  • You plan on maintaining your Kybella results with diet and exercise. As previously mentioned, Kybella can’t treat future fat cells, which is why patients need to keep up their results by maintaining their current weight.

If you have a complete understanding of the above caveats, then you’re likely an excellent candidate for Kybella treatments at Song Plastic Surgery in Irvine, California.To learn more about Kybella or to see if you qualify as a candidate, schedule a consultation with owner and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kyle Song today.

Song Plastic Surgery serves the greater Orange County areas. Call (949) 701- 4454 to learn more about Kybella.

Categories Face, Kybella, Necklift
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How Do I Get a Natural-Looking Facelift?

by Kyle Song, MD
December 20th, 2015

Natural-Looking-Facelift-Kyle-Song-MD-IrvineWhen it comes to correcting a host of facial issues associated with aging, nothing compares to the results that can be delivered with a facelift.  When performed correctly, a facelift can lift sagging, tighten skin, and correct drooping eyebrows and eyelids. The overall effect is that a patient appears younger, looks well-rested, and feels revitalized by his or her new appearance

However, there are some cases of facelifts gone wrong.  Instead of looking revitalized and younger, some patients come away with an unnaturally tighter or “surprise” appearance.  This unwanted result can occur when plastic surgeons don’t correct the real signs of aging; instead, they just pull facial muscles and corresponding skin as tightly as possible.

At Song Plastic Surgery in Irvine, California – serving the greater Orange County area – board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kyle Song uses a more comprehensive approach to the facelift procedure.  Instead of focusing on surface corrections, Dr. Song directly addresses the main signs of aging, which results in a more natural-looking facelift.

To achieve these results, Dr. Song addresses secondary signs of aging, which include:

  • Laxity of Tissues: This aging issue is one that a facelift is most proficient at treating.  As we age, skin tissue begins to break down due to declining levels of collagen and elastin.  A facelift addresses these issues by pulling skin and muscle tissue taut, which effectively reduces the appearance of drooping and sagging.  Dr. Song will make small incisions along the hairline and behind the ears to access these muscles, so your facelift scars won’t be noticeable.
  • Loss of Volume:  Facial volume is key to producing natural-looking facelift results.  Youthful faces typically have fat located around the cheekbones, which is why Dr. Song uses fat grafts to mimic a similar appearance.  Fat is harvested from a pre-determined area (usually the stomach or waist), treated, and then injected into the cheek areas.  There’s no chance that the fat will be rejected, as it’s from your own body.  Results can be permanent, making this procedure one of the best ways to maintain your newfound results.

To learn more about Dr. Song’s unique approach to achieve a natural-looking facelift, schedule a consultation with Dr. Song at Song Plastic Surgery in Irvine, California or visit http://www.kylesongmd.com. Call (949) 701-4454 to learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Song today. 

Categories Face, Facelift
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How Long Will I Be Swollen From Fat Grafting?

by Kyle Song, MD
December 4th, 2015

How-Long-Will-I-Be-Swollen-From-Fat-Grafting-Kyle-Song-MD-IrvineHave you recently made the decision to undergo fat grafting?  Then congratulations – you’re just a procedure away from achieving a more contoured, natural-looking appearance.  Whether you’re looking to enhance your buttocks or breasts, or want to achieve a more youthful face with volumized, contoured cheeks, a fat grafting procedure can make it all possible.

If you’re not sure what’s involved with fat grafting, it’s a relatively straightforward procedure.  Fat is harvested from a predetermined donor site; typically the stomach, waist, thighs, or anywhere else you’d like a little contouring.  After harvesting, it’s cleaned and purified so it’s ready for injection.  The fat is placed into a syringe and injected into the treatment area, whether it’s in the face, buttocks, or breasts.

The main benefit to fat grafting is that it produces stellar, natural-looking results.  For example, let’s say you want perkier breasts. Before fat grafting, your only option would be to undergo breast augmentation, which might not produce the natural, subtle results you’re after.  Yet with fat grafting, you can achieve lift and volume without using implants. 

Additionally, fat grafting can make facial enhancements look more authentic without seeming “overdone”.  Instead of using dermal fillers – which needs to be done yearly to maintain results – fat grafting can be used to achieve permanent results. 

Before undergoing a fat grafting procedure, it’s important for patients to keep in mind that there will be some swelling associated with the treatment.  In general, here’s what you can expect in terms of swelling after your fat grafting treatment:

  • From the donor site:  This is the area where the fat is being harvested.  The donor site will typically be swollen for four to six weeks; however, many patients report that the swelling isn’t as noticeable by three to four weeks after the treatment.
  • In the grafted site: This is the area where the grafted fat is injected.  Swelling here is much more minimal than at the donor site, which means it disappears faster as well.  Swelling usually dissipates two to three weeks after surgery.

For more information about fat grafting, or to learn what fat grafting can do for your appearance, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kyle Song at Song Plastic Surgery.  Located in Irvine, California, Song Plastic Surgery serves the greater Orange County area.  Learn more by visiting http://www.kylesongmd.com/. Call (949) 701 -4454 to learn more today! 

Categories Face, Facial Fat Grafting
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