Why Knowing Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type Is Useful
Many people have never heard of the Fitzpatrick Scale for skin types. So, who was Fitzpatrick, and why is this information useful? The Fitzpatrick Scale is a practical classification for skin complexions that can help determine a person’s probability for tanning or sun burning when exposed to ultraviolet light. It’s helpful in assessing the risk for developing skin cancer from sun exposure. Physicians use the scale when determining appropriate doses of UV or laser therapy for skin treatments. Background The Fitzpatrick Scale was developed in 1975 by dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick. The scale is divided into six skin types, ranging from Type I skin that always sunburns to Type VI [...]
Are You Considering a Facelift?
Are you dissatisfied with your facial appearance? Do fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin make you look tired or older? Can you envision firmer, tighter skin turning back the hands of time? You may have already tried some non-invasive cosmetic procedures that helped for a while, but now you feel you may need more. It might be time to consider a facelift. A facelift can restore the contours of the face, producing results that help an individual look years younger. Typically, the lower two thirds of the face is targeted. Visible signs of aging on the face and neck will be improved. Skin laxity in many areas, including the [...]
Dr. Cristina Keusch – A Physician of Excellence
Dr. Cristina Keusch, Board Certified plastic surgeon, founded Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center in 1990. Her professional goal is to help patients feel more confident in their appearance. She and her staff welcome patients into a warm and caring environment, while providing treatments with complete confidentiality. Dr. Keusch offers a variety of services including breast procedures, face and neck procedures, and body contouring. Skin and laser services include injectable fillers, WarmSculpting, Ulthera®, Vivace®, and laser scar treatments. Procedures are highly customized, depending on a patient’s medical history and desires. Dr. Keusch’s Honors Dr. Keusch is well respected locally as well as nationally. She has been named a Castle Connolly Top [...]
A New Nonsurgical Option to Restore Jawline Definition
It’s not uncommon to lose jawline definition as we age. This is often referred to as a weak jawline. The edge of the chin may develop a soft, rounded angle as fat builds below the jawline in the neck. At the same time, the fat pads in the mid-face may get smaller, causing the lower face to appear droopy. What can be done to fight aging and restore jawline definition? Why do changes to the jawline occur? Some physical features are determined in part by genetics. This includes the structure of the jaw. The mandible, or lower jaw, may be smaller, or the person may have a natural overbite. A [...]
Is Breast Reduction Surgery with Implants Counterintuitive?
Breast reduction surgery with an augmentation at the same time is contrary to what one would normally expect. After all, if the goal is to reduce breast size, why would one want to add an implant? Although this may not seem to make sense initially, there are valid reasons women would opt for this very choice. Why do women choose a breast reduction? Breast reduction may be a solution for women who have lived with years of chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain due to the size and heaviness of their breasts. Exercise, daily activities, and even sleeping may be uncomfortable for them. They may have developed grooves in their [...]
We’re Excited About SkinMedica’s Newest Collection!
Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center is excited to offer our patients the new Even and Correct Collection recently launched by SkinMedica®. The collection is a customizable approach used to target the appearance of hyperpigmentation and improve skin tone and texture. The items in the collection can be added together or separately to a daily skincare regimen. The Even and Correct Collection includes the following new products: Advanced Brightening Treatment, Brightening Treatment Pads, and Dark Spot Cream. Facial Hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation refers to dark colored patches on the skin due to excess melanin production. While not dangerous, they can be an annoying and embarrassing problem. Pigmentation spots may occur as the result [...]
Wear a Tank Top Without Fear
Flabby upper arms are an embarrassment to many people. They refuse to be seen sleeveless or in a swimsuit. They may have tried to tone their arms, but diet and exercise haven’t been enough. So they hide their arms under long sleeves, even in the hot south Florida weather. A Cosmetic Surgery Solution There is a surgical option to address sagging upper arms called brachioplasty, or arm lift. This surgery will contour and shape the upper arms by removing excess skin and localized pockets of fat. Liposuction may be performed as part of the procedure. Supportive tissue will also be tightened. The results are more youthful, toned arms that can [...]
Why We Love Radiofrequency for Skin Tightening! (and You Will Too)
Are there areas of your body with pockets of stubborn fat? Do you have skin that has lost elasticity over the years? Would you like to tighten and tone these areas without surgery? Then you may be a good candidate for Exilis Therapy. How does Exilis Therapy work? Exilis Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that tightens skin while shrinking fat cells. Radiofrequency energy heats the targeted fat cells, causing them to break down and be eliminated. The treatment increases the body’s production of collagen and elastin, which reduces skin laxity and helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. For example, it’s effective in lifting sagging jowls and can tighten skin and [...]
Chin Contouring Without Surgery
There are two main reasons that prompt patients to consider chin contouring. Some are embarrassed or self-conscious about having a double chin. They may feel it makes them look older or heavier than they really are. Diet and exercise have not produced desired results. They want a slimmer profile, but they don’t want surgery. Other patients have noticed that their chin and jawline have lost volume and definition as they age. The chin and jowls have begun to look soft and saggy. They may be looking to improve the appearance of a weak chin and achieve more balance in their face. This group may also seek [...]
Liposuction or SmartLipo: What’s Right for Me?
There are often areas of stubborn fat on the body that are hard to eliminate. Despite people’s best efforts to trim down these areas, they seem resistant to diet and exercise. Many patients have turned to liposuction, a popular plastic surgery procedure, to address these problem areas.Some of the more popular areas of the body where liposuction can remove unwanted fat include the buttocks, inner and outer thighs, hips, abdomen, upper arms, and back (think “bra rolls”). Many men find liposuction helpful in treating “love handles”. Getting rid of fat pockets in these regions helps patients achieve a more defined body shape and a sleeker profile.SmartLipo, or [...]
Vivace™ Microneedling RF Improves Skin Tone and Texture
If you are looking for non-surgical treatments that can refresh and rejuvenate the complexion with minimal downtime, Vivace™ Microneedling RF may be ideal for you. Vivace™ stimulates the production of new collagen in deep layers of the skin to repair damage and help maintain skin tightness. Collagen gives the skin structural support, but unfortunately, it’s production decreases with age. Following Vivace™ treatments, our patients at Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center see a noticeable improvement in skin texture and firmness. What is Vivace™? Vivace™ is the next generation of microneedling that treats early signs of aging of the face and neck. Superfine, gold tipped needles prick the [...]
Tummy Tucks Provide Dramatic Results
The tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetics surgeries because it produces dramatic results. Women and men who have tried to achieve a flatter, more toned belly through diet and exercise become frustrated when they don’t attain their desired results. They may have loose, stretched skin and excess fat around the midsection that just won’t firm up. The issue is often damaged abdominal walls that need to be surgically repaired. For these people, a tummy tuck can help them feel more confident and comfortable with their bodies. Not Just for Women A tummy tuck is [...]
Why Medical Grade Skincare and the Right Ingredients Matter
Many over-the-counter skincare products are readily available at drug stores, beauty retailers, department stores, and online. These products are commonly used by people in their everyday skincare routines. Although many product labels claim to contain ingredients that people are looking for, in reality they may only contain trace amounts. Using these products may do very little to improve the skin, and no one wants to feel they have wasted their money. There is no oversight by the FDA, and product testing is not required. The user often has no idea what they are really purchasing. Medical grade, or pharmaceutical grade, skincare products are prescribed by a [...]
Look Amazing After Eyelid Surgery
An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a surgery that corrects sagging eyelids. Fatty deposits that create those bags under the lower lids can also be removed. The results are a younger, fresher appearance that reflects across the patient’s face. Rejuvenated eyelids are not just for women. The procedure is also popular among men.As we age, the thinner, sensitive skin around the eyes loses elasticity, giving way to fine lines and wrinkles that make people look weary and fatigued. Eyelid surgery can restore the lids to a more youthful appearance. Laser resurfacing of the lower eyelid can be performed in the same session to reduce crepiness and give [...]
Sculptra® Aesthetic – A Different Type of Dermal Filler
Dermal fillers enjoy great popularity today. There are a variety of injectable dermal fillers available, made by different pharmaceutical companies. They are commonly used to correct facial lines and wrinkles for a smoother complexion. They can create fullness in areas that have lost volume. Fillers can also minimize the appearance of scars. Dermal fillers are popular non-surgical procedures that can be performed in just a few minutes with limited disruption to patients’ schedules. However, not all dermal fillers are the same. Sculptra® Aesthetic is a different type of filler than most others. How is Sculptra® different? Many dermal fillers are composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural [...]
Juvederm Voluma® Restores Cheek Volume
Hollow, or sunken, cheeks can occur as people age. The gradual loss of facial tissue between the bony arch of the cheek and the jaw can affect both women and men. Collagen and elastin break down over time, resulting in changes that can make people appear older and tired. It is possible to restore lost cheek volume and reshape cheek contours with Juvederm Voluma®. This product is part of the popular Allergan line of dermal fillers that includes Vollure® and Volbella®. What is Voluma®? Juvederm Voluma® is an injectable hyaluronic acid filler in gel form. It’s used to lift and correct age-related volume loss in the [...]
Fraxel Laser Resurfacing – A Non-Surgical Alternative for Damaged Skin
Patients who are dissatisfied with or embarrassed by acne scars, sun damaged skin, dark pigment spots, and wrinkles can address these problems non-surgically with Fraxel laser resurfacing. This treatment may be the next step when other, less aggressive treatments have not produced desired results. Fraxel laser resurfacing can be used to target problem areas on the face, neck, chest, and the back of the hands. How does Fraxel laser resurfacing work? A fractional CO2 laser can treat a variety of skin damage to provide smoother, younger-looking skin free from hyperpigmentation and other damage. Small areas are targeted with laser light waves. Untreated areas are not damaged. [...]
Internal Bra Provides Added Lift and Support
Many women deal with significant breast sagging as they age. Support tissue stretches over time and loses tone. Skin loses its youthful elasticity. Not only do these breast changes affect the way women feel about their bodies, but heavy breasts can be painful. It may be difficult to find a comfortable bra that offers enough support, especially when actively exercising. Now a relatively new surgical procedure called internal bra can provide needed internal support and lift for women with droopy breasts or heavy implants. Why do breasts sag? There are several reasons why a woman may develop sagging breasts. Weight gain over time adds fatty tissue [...]
Dr. Cristina F. Keusch Named Top Doctor 2022 by Castle Connolly
Dr. Cristina F. Keusch, founder of Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center, named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2022. PRESS RELEASE Boca Raton, FL Dr. Cristina F. Keusch, founder of Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center, was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Plastic Surgery for 2022. This honor is given to approximately 7 percent of the country’s licensed physicians in their regions for their specialties. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Keusch has been honored as a Castle Connelly Top Doctor since 2004. With 25 years researching Top Doctors, Castle Connolly is a reliable and trusted source when identifying quality healthcare professionals. Their database of [...]
How a Facelift Addresses a Sagging Neck
Age can take a toll on the face and neck. Sagging skin around the jaw and neckline and deep fold lines between the nose and the corners of the mouth make people look old and tired. It creates dissatisfaction with our appearance and negatively impacts self-esteem. Lifestyle changes and non-surgical treatments may help to an extent, but it’s often not enough. Pronounced facial and neck sagging can both be corrected with a facelift. What causes sagging skin? There are several reasons why a person’s skin may sag. Skin loses its elasticity as we age because the skin no longer produces enough of the protein elastin. This [...]
Banish Back Fat with SmartLipo
Stubborn pockets of back fat can be a problem for both women and men. These are those annoying areas of fat that just don’t respond to our efforts of dieting and exercise. Genetics, diet, and lifestyle factors can determine where body fat is deposited. For women, the back fat problem may actually become more noticeable when wearing a bra. The fat pockets on the upper torso and sides are often referred to as a bra line bulge or bra roll fat. Back fat in men can be a problem in the upper back or in the “love handle” area. For many people, there doesn’t seem to [...]
Breast Implant Revision or Replacement
Women who undergo breast augmentation surgery know that breast implants are not guaranteed to last indefinitely. After a number of years, the patient may desire to modify the appearance of their breasts, change to a different type of implant, or adjust the size. Many will opt to have a breast lift at the same time. Although the FDA approves most saline and silicone implants for 10-20 years, it’s often safe to go beyond that timeframe. However, approximately 20% of women have an implant revision or replacement within 8-10 years for either cosmetic reasons or complications. The following are some of the indications that implants need to [...]
What to Know About a Lower Body Lift
A lower body lift can be a life-changing procedure for people who are very self-conscious about sagging skin on their abdomen and upper thighs. They can enjoy a slimmer, more toned appearance and may even lose several inches around the stomach. A lower body lift can be a game changer for men and women who have had gastric bypass surgery and maintained a steady weight for 18 months. This surgery can dramatically improve their body image. What is a lower body lift? A lower body lift is also known as a high-lateral abdominoplasty. This surgical procedure targets and removes excess skin, fat, and tissue on the [...]
Does Breast Augmentation Improve Body Image?
For many women, the answer is a resounding yes! They are not happy with their bodies and view breast augmentation as a way to improve their looks. Breast augmentation enhances the size and shape of the breasts. Women choose breast augmentation for a number of reasons. Some women are embarrassed by small breasts that never developed to their expectations. Other women have asymmetrical breasts. The size or shape doesn’t match in some respect and may be noticeable in swim suits, tank tops, and other clothing. These women may have difficulty finding clothes that fit right. There are others whose breasts have changed substantially following childbirth and [...]
Quadruple Blepharoplasty Dramatically Improves Aging Eyelids
The areas around the eyelids are often the first to reveal signs of aging. The skin there is thin, delicate, and prone to develop fine lines and wrinkles. Drooping eyelids appear heavy and give the impression of tiredness and fatigue. Pockets of fat may form under the lower lids, giving the appearance of bags under the eyes. Sagging skin and puffiness make people appear older, tired, and not well rested. Drooping upper eyelids can even obstruct vision.Quadruple blepharoplasty, or combined upper and lower eyelid surgery, is a procedure that removes fat, bulk, and excess skin from both eyelid areas. A major benefit of the quadruple surgery is [...]
