Varicose Veins: Causes And Treatments

Varicose veins—ugh! We all instantly recognize them and we all wish to hide them or eliminate them. They appear as little spider veins on the face, such as the cheeks and nose, or they can be large worm-type discolorations that plump up primarily on the thighs and lower leg. But what causes them and what can you do about them?
Why Varicose Veins Develop
Your age, weight, gender, genetics and other factors can influence your tendency toward developing these unattractive veins. Blood circulates down the legs through your arteries to your feet and then returns back to the heart through your veins. Contraction of the leg muscles pumps the blood back up to the heart, even when you are standing. Also, the veins have one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backwards down the leg. Varicose veins develop when this system breaks down and allows some blood to pool in the leg veins instead of being pumped back up the body.
First, aging is a factor. Since the same veins sustain wear and tear over decades, the valves in the veins essentially become tired out over time, allowing blood to flow backwards and pool. This blood then collects and becomes visible on the surface over time.
Weight is also a cause of varicose veins. Those who weigh more than they should develop varicose veins as the fat applies higher pressure in the legs.
Women suffer more than men with varicose veins. This is likely due to hormones during pregnancy and menopause, which cause the vein linings to weaken.
Blood clots lead to varicose veins as well. These can develop in the superficial veins, causing them to become inflamed, which damages the valves. This allows the blood to flow backwards, causing a pooling effect.
The most common cause is a lack of movement. Sitting or standing for long periods of time can cause the muscles to contract less often. This results in pooling. Over time, this pressure leads to bulging of the veins, resulting in the twisted, bumpy characteristic that we identify as a varicose vein.

Study Shows That New Supplement Increases Botox Results by 93%

Imagine simply taking a vitamin supplement four days before your next Botox injection and having 93% more effective results! A study performed in Houston at the Methodist Hospital by Dr. Charles Soparkar, who is an oculoplastic surgeon and his fellow researchers, showed that a combination of organic zinc plus phytase, an enzyme, increased Botox results by 93%.  Due to this research, a new supplement was created. It will be coming on the market later this month or February. Called ZYTAZE™, it will be available by prescription.

“Surprisingly, the results showed that in over 90% of the patients studied, the zinc/phytase combination resulted in a remarkable improved responsiveness to treatment of blepharospasm using the same amount of botulinum toxin as previously used,” said Soparkar. “The toxins seemed to have greater effect and last longer. Potentially, this could mean using less toxin, offering patients financial savings, greater safety, and more consistent results.”

If the prescription is sensibly priced, it would create an overall savings for patients who use Botox for wrinkle reduction, as less Botox will be necessary to achieve the same results and the results will last longer. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I hear further news on this topic.

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Gregory Chernoff

Whatever Happened to Silicone Injections?

Although silicone injections are illegal in the US, many women still receive them. If you ask two or three of your closest beauty-savvy friends whether silicone can be used to augment the lips, buttocks, face, hands or breasts, I’m betting they will say yes. Unfortunately, liquid silicone is often used off-label or on the black market by unqualified providers. You can see from the photo at left that Priscilla Presley’s face was nearly ruined from silicone injections that her doctor told her were “better than Botox.”
Silicone injections first became popular in the 1950s, when they were injected into breasts as a sort of augmentation-without-an implant.  Unfortunately, the injections caused infections, deformities and bumps and were eventually banned by the FDA. Because micro-droplet injections for scars are not banned by the FDA, however, some physicians continue to inject silicone.
Because it lasts forever, silicone does not adapt to aging tissue. The only way to reverse the damage incurred—with a surgical procedure, which might not remove all the silicone or correct the visible effects. Lisa Rinna recently underwent surgery to remove the silicone in her lips, which were injected in the ’80s.
Our plastic surgery practice has a plethora of FDA approved dermal fillers in Indianapolis. Collagen lip augmentation is a much more reliable result than silicone ever was. Sculptra Aesthetic is another option—not for the lips, but an excellent filler for the cheeks and other facial areas.
If you hear from a friend or family member that they are considering silicone injections, please share this blog post with them. It could save them a great deal of discomfort, wasted money and very disappointing results.
To your health & beauty

The Trinity Complex

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The complete skin program for immediate, visible and long lasting results, the Trinity Complex is a non-surgical treatment in three steps, performed sequentially, during the same office visit. With the Trinity skin program, color correction, skin tightening and wrinkle treatment can all be achieved in a single session, helping you achieve total facial renewal in just 3 treatment sessions! The Trinity Complex combines 3 of today's most effective technologies through the eMax laser system.

How does the Trinity Complex work?

The 3 treatment technologies of the Trinity Complex- FotoFacial RF Color Correction, Refirme Skin Tightening and Matrix IR Fractional for Wrinkles - feature the revolutionary elosT technology, combination of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light/Laser energies which precisely heat tissue within the targeted treatment area to stimulate improvement within the skin.

Step 1 : Renew
FotoFacial RF for Color Correction

The Skin Rejuvenation applicators target both vascular and pigmented lesions for skin rejuvenation.

The targeted vascular or pigmented lesions absorb the heat energy raising the temperature of the target tissue. Then RF energy flows to the heated area and elevates the temperature to the level required for effective treatment and overall improved skin texture.

Step 2 : Refirme
Refirme Skin Tightening

The Refirme applicator stimulates long term collagen synthesis as well as the tightening of existing collagen fibers, giving an immediate firmed appearance.
The procedure uses a combination of gentle pulsed infrared light (wavelengths 700-2000nm) and bipolar radio frequency (RF) to provide deep dermal heating, up to 4-5 mm in depth.

Step 3 : Matrix IR
Matrix IR Focused Remodeling

The Matrix IR fractional applicator delivers more focused energy to target zones, promoting fast collagen renewal and remodeling for a smoother appearance.

The laser energy is delivered in a form of micro-beams creating matrix thermal bands. This fractional energy enables the introduction of more focused energy into demarcated zones in the dermis to denature and remodel collagen.

About Refirme

Refirme is a FDA cleared non-invasive Skin Tightening procedure (via Wrinkle Reduction) featuring the revolutionary elosT technology that enables you to comfortably achieve a more youthful, toned and lifted appearance without enduring downtime.

Refirme is a complete anti-aging solution for targeting those telltale signs of aging, including, jowl and neck laxity, sagginess under the eyes, saggy brow lines, and nasolabial folds.

Unlike conventional laser skin tightening treatments that are time and treatment intensive, and often too painful for many patients; Refirme offers virtually painless and fast treatment for sagging and wrinkled skin.

Refirme is a safe and effective industry-leading medical aesthetic technology, which has received national media exposure through The Rachel Ray Show, Carnie Wilson feature on Extra, Star Magazine and many more publications and television shows.

How Refirme Works

Refirme features the revolutionary elōs™ combination of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light energies to precisely heat the dermal tissue within the targeted treatment area. The precise heating ensures a safe, effective, fast treatment with no downtime. Fine wrinkles are reduced, noticeable lifting can be observed on sagging skin and the texture of your skin becomes smoother, more luminous and toned. Unlike conventional lasers and IPL's, Refirme uses significantly less optical energy, ensuring enhanced safety and a virtually painless procedure.

Radiesse Volumizing Filler

Collagen is what gives volume, flexibility and strength to healthy, young skin. As a part of the aging process, your own natural collagen breaks down, diminishing facial volume and elasticity. This loss of elasticity and volume results in wrinkles, facial lines and skin laxity – all of which rob your skin of its youthful, fresh appearance.


Replenish Volume. Restore Collagen. Refresh You.
Ideal wrinkle reduction is achieved by replenishing your skin's lost volume. Upon injection, RADIESSE® Volumizing Filler immediately provides the volume and lift needed to diminish the signs of aging because of the calcium-based microspheres and gel that comprise the product. But what's unique about RADIESSE Volumizing Filler is that it acts as a scaffold under the skin, providing structure and stimulating your own natural collagen to grow.1 This process continues for several months, which extends the initial effect of RADIESSE Volumizing Filler. Best of all, the natural results are clinically proven to last a year or more in many patients, which is why more and more cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and other medical professionals are choosing RADIESSE Volumizing Filler to achieve long-lasting facial rejuvenation.

Sculptra Aesthetic Wrinkle Correction

DOT C02 Laser Skin Treatment

The natural effects of aging, sunlight and exposure to air pollution cause a gradual deterioration in both the structure and functions of the skin. Dermal Optical Thermolysis, or DOT therapy, is an innovative new laser technology designed to restore the skin’s youthful appearance. DOT therapy can treat a variety of skin conditions like sun spots, age spots, wrinkles, sagging skin, stretch marks and hyperpigmentation and it is especially effective in treating complex conditions like acne scars, surgical scars and deep wrinkles. Nearly any area of the body can be treated though commonly treated areas include the face, neck, eyelids, décolleté, hands, arms, knees and back. This is a safe, effective treatment for individuals who are looking to improve their skin.

DOT therapy uses a fractional CO2 laser technology to shrink the skin and stimulate the production of new collagen. Unlike other fractional systems that use a continuous source or traditional pulsed emission, the DOT laser is the only CO2 laser that works through pulsed emission, utilizing two innovative technologies: SmartPulse and SmartStack. Furthermore, in addition to the traditional and interlaced scan methods, DOT also features a special algorithm developed to enhance post-treatment recovery. This algorithm optimizes the scanning of the treatment area, minimizing the local increase in temperature. Treatment and downtime can be tailored to the patient’s needs, allowing lower settings to be used for patients with minimal damage and more aggressive settings to be used for patients with excessive skin damage.

As an expert in the field of laser therapy, Dr. Chernoff assisted in the development and clinical studies for the DOT laser and he is excited to offer this new treatment at his Indianapolis cosmetic surgery center. DOT therapy is performed in the office setting and takes approximately thirty minutes to perform. A topical numbing cream is applied prior to treatment, though discomfort is minimal as patients generally describe treatment as similar to the snap of a tiny warm rubber band against the skin.

After treatment, patients will feel as if they have a sunburn. The recovery time will depend on the setting used for treatment. For individuals with minimal sun damage and only a slight decline in skin elasticity there may be no downtime and work and other activities may be resumed right away. More aggressive treatments for those with severe sun damage, age spots, wrinkles, scars or stretch marks  may require one to three days of downtime. Aggressive treatments can cause a moderate sunburn-like appearance that may limit the patient from returning to work depending on how they feel about their appearance. Aftercare instructions will be provided to help you care for the treated skin. DOT therapy is a very effective, quick in-office procedure that involves minimal downtime and minimal risk of complications. It is an excellent minimally-invasive alternative to traditional facelift surgery or CO2 laser resurfacing. Dr. Chernoff has used DOT therapy with exceptional results on many of his patients, including those who have been victims of violent acts with significant scarring of the face and body.

La Viv Therapy-Natural Collagen Supplemation System

As years go by, the aging process takes its toll on our skin. The inner layer of skin, the dermis, becomes thinner as your body produces less collagen, which is the support structure of the skin. This results in the occurrence of wrinkles and thinning lips. Until now, there has not been a method of providing true skin rejuvenation. Fortunately, advancements in medical technology have enabled physicians to treat patients with new technologies yielding results never before possible. In the field of skin rejuvenation, La Viv has developed a patented process, which enables physicians to naturally restore your skin to its original youthfulness.

With La Viv's Natural Collagen Supplementation System, it is now possible to use your own skin cells to activate your gaining "Protein Repair System" and naturally treat the dermal defects of the skin, which are the cause of wrinkles, thinning lips, acne scars, and dermal depressions like chicken pox scars.
La Viv provides a subtle correction of wrinkles, acne scars, and can be used effectively in treating thin lips.
The benefits of La Viv treatments are long lasting. Unlike Bovine collagen, a foreign protein derived from cows, which can cause allergic reactions in some people and fully dissipates over time, the La Viv process expands your own dermal cells and activates your "Protein Repair System". This enhanced "Protein Repair System" is then able to produce your own natural collagen, which provides for a gradual long-term thickening of your dermal layer of skin. La Viv achieves true rejuvenation of the skin.
La Viv treatments can be used in conjunction with other treatments offered by your surgeon, such as laser skin exfoliation as chemical peels. La Viv is the only treatment that substantially thickens the inner most layers of your skin while laser and chemical peels work to exfoliate and remove the outer and middle layers of the skin, resulting in a very complementary approach to total facial rejuvenation.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could keep a part of ourselves just as we are today, and not be exposed to the effects of aging, which we all experience?

La Viv's Cell Storage System is designed to accomplish this objective. La Viv's Cell Storage System has been designed to allow patients to permanently store their "Protein Repair System" for cultivation and expansion some time in the future without the need for additional biopsies. Imagine when you are 50 getting your 30-year-old tissue injected into your wrinkles. This is truly medicine of the 21st century.
Cells stored in La Viv's Cell Storage System are in a state of suspended animation, and are not exposed to the oxidation effects of aging in your living tissue. Scientific studies have shown that younger cells have greater restorative and repair characteristics than cells that have been continually exposed to photo damage and oxidation associated with a normal lifestyle. Your cells, when taken out of La Viv's Cell Storage System, recultivated and reintroduced into your tissue should have greater repair capabilities than your existing tissues.

Gore-Tex Lip Augmentation

One of the most telling signs of age are the lips. As we age, we loose bulk and definition to the upper lip. The middle portion of the lip which has the upturn to it is called Cupid's Bow. With ongoing age, a flattening of Cupid's Bow is most commonly seen. When evaluating the upper and lower lips, an aesthetically pleasing look usually is a one-to-one height ratio between the vertical height of the upper lip to the vertical height of the lower lip measured at Cupid's Bow. While several temporary injection fillers are utilized to augment the lips, permanent lip augmentation can be performed utilizing surgical Gore-Tex. Surgical Gore-Tex has been on the market for over twenty years utilized in several million people by the heart surgeons to repair holes in hearts. It was approved for augmenting subcutaneous defects in the face as well as reconstruction of the lips.

Full Face Laser Resurfacing Photo Gallery

 

Full Face CO2 Laser Resurfacing, Face and Necklift, Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty, Endoscopic Brow Lift

Aesthetic Services

Botox™ Injections (for frown lines and crow's feet)

Are you tired of being asked if you are angry when you are not? Are you tired of being asked why you look so tired after you have had eight hours of sleep? Then, Botox®; is for you. Dynamic wrinkles known as crow's feet or scowl lines are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh, or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you don't have to show them anymore.

Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug called Botox®;, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses Botox®; injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet, and other dynamic wrinkles. Botox®; can also be utilized to slightly raise the eyebrows.

Fat Transfer / Fat Injections

Often patients ask us to remove fat from one area, but not waste it! Often times it is possible to sculpt an area of excess fat, and through a process attributed largely to the success of Dr. Sydney Coleman from New York, Dr. Chernoff is able to meticulously inject your own fatty tissue into areas where aging has caused fatty deposits to deteriorate. The most common areas of fat injection/fat sculpture are in the area of the brows, or under the eyes to fill in a gaunt or sunken in look. Other areas include marionette lines or nasolabial folds. The utilization of your own fat to augment subcutaneous defects in your facial appearance is totally proportional to the imagination and ingenuity of the operating surgeon. Your own fatty tissue can be stored for several months giving you the ability to re-inject your own fat as a "top up" procedure.
The fact that this is the patient's own tissue also is very attractive to patients seeking augmentation procedures in their body.

Lip Augmentation

Refirme

Refirme is a FDA cleared non-invasive Skin Tightening procedure (via Wrinkle Reduction) featuring the revolutionary elosT technology that enables you to comfortably achieve a more youthful, toned and lifted appearance without enduring downtime.
Refirme is a complete anti-aging solution for targeting those telltale signs of aging, including, jowl and neck laxity, sagginess under the eyes, saggy brow lines, and nasolabial folds.
Unlike conventional laser skin tightening treatments that are time and treatment intensive, and often too painful for many patients; Refirme offers virtually painless and fast treatment for sagging and wrinkled skin.
Refirme is a safe and effective industry-leading medical aesthetic technology, which has received national media exposure through The Rachel Ray Show, Carnie Wilson feature on Extra, Star Magazine and many more publications and television shows.
How Refirme Works
Refirme features the revolutionary elōs™ combination of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light energies to precisely heat the dermal tissue within the targeted treatment area. The precise heating ensures a safe, effective, fast treatment with no downtime. Fine wrinkles are reduced, noticeable lifting can be observed on sagging skin and the texture of your skin becomes smoother, more luminous and toned. Unlike conventional lasers and IPL's, Refirme uses significantly less optical energy, ensuring enhanced safety and a virtually painless procedure.

Laser Removal of Tattoos

Are you having second thoughts about your tattoo? If so, you're not alone. Every day patients are seen from every walk of life that have second thoughts about their tattoos. What once seemed like a good idea may not fit your new image, and you wish it would just go away. Now your wish can come true. Utilizing our advanced laser systems, we can remove tattoos safely without leaving a scar.

Different lasers are required for removing different colors of tattoos. At Chernoff Plastic Surgery, Laser and Wellness Center, a multi wavelength approach to tattoos is possible utilizing our large array of lasers. Medical lasers utilize an intense beam of light to significantly lighten the tattoo with each treatment. The light energy may be delivered as a continuous wave of light or in pulses, depending upon the treatment and the type of laser utilized. When the ink particles of the tattoo absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into smaller fragments. These fragments are then absorbed by your body's white blood cells and carried away by your body's natural cleansing mechanism. The cleansing process usually takes four to six weeks. Pigment that is deeper in the dermis and more concentrated will require numerous treatments to remove.

Hair Replacement

Laser Hair Modification

For many men and women, unwanted hair has a very negative impact on self-esteem. Unwanted hair, particularly when on the face, can cause patients a high amount of unease. Areas of unwanted hair causing repeated shaving, such as underarm hair, bikini line hair, and leg hair, have long been sites of therapies in the past utilized in an effort to remove hair in these regions. For decades, treatments such as waxing, tweezing, or electrolysis, have been utilized. While each of these procedures has its own benefits, none of the aforementioned procedures offers true permanence. Electrolysis, while an accepted procedure for decades, can be painful to some patients, particularly in areas such as bikini lines and facial hair.