But the trend for surgeons is changing. Now it’s about giving patients that desired look with less risk, less money, and less down time.

A Sarasota surgeon has one such option; he’s helped develop an alternative to a traditional facelift called Acculift.

"I think as we age, there are different things we don’t like.” Ramona Arpin is like thousands of others looking to regain that youthful appearance. "I noticed everything coming down here, so I know that that happens. So I just thought…well, if we do something to tweak that I’m fine with that.”

Just a week shy of her 57th birthday, Ramona decided she was ready for some improvements. But not wanting to have the down time of a facelift, Dr. David Holcomb told her about a relatively new procedure called Acculift. It’s laser assisted facial contouring, only requiring local anesthesia and small needle-sticks.

It removes the excess fat that accumulates in the midface and along the jawline that creates jowls.

"What happens is, that fat pad slides from outside toward the nose and mouth as we age.” Dr. Holcomb says traditional facelifts have limitations, because sometimes you’re lifting the fat that eventually can sag again…and filler injections are only temporary. “And as jowl folds become heavier, you end up having to put more and more filler to camouflage or contour the face. And that can become very costly and unnatural.”

Before the procedure, the doctor marks the areas where fat will be removed and fillers will be added. Then it’s time to start. After the local anesthesia, small incisions are made for the fat removal.

The fiberoptic laser is used to melt the descended fat and then used to tighten the skin. If needed, fillers can be put in to add volume where it’s been lost, giving the face that rejuvenated look.

The whole procedure takes about 45 minutes, and patients are typically back to their normal routines within just a couple of days.

Several weeks after her procedure, Ramona she said it was breeze. She had the Acculift done Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning she was having breakfast downtown with friends. "I noticed a difference right away. I could really see a difference in this region, and as the time went on it just gets better and better.”

Dr. Holcomb recently returned from Dubai where he presented a course on Acculift. He says it can be a great touch-up procedure for previous facelift patients that have re-formed jowls.

It’s generally several thousand dollars for the procedure, but Dr. Holcomb says it’s about half as much as a facelift would cost.

If you’d like more information, and to see before and after pictures, you can head to www.srqfps.com.

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Using a precisely controlled cooling method called Cryolipolysis™ CoolSculpting™ targets fat cells by virtually freezing them without damage to other tissue. Patients return to their normal activities immediately with no restrictions. Results are seen gradually over the next two to four months as the crystallized fat cells break down and are naturally and permanently eliminated from the body. An average 20% reduction of the fat layer treated is seen following each 60-minute session.

Recently featured on ABC 7, Dr. Holcomb demonstrated CoolSculpting™: http://www.srqfps.com/body_sculpting_center/zeltiq.html. Consultations and personalized quotes are available by contacting Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery at (941) 365-8679 or on the web at www.SRQFPS.com.

New Facial Contouring Procedure Unveiled at World Events

May 18, 2010-Sarasota, FL- The dream result of all facial plastic surgeons is to reverse the signs of aging. For decades, the plastic surgery industry has struggled to develop a procedure which not only addresses the signs of aging, but also yields natural, enduring results with little downtime, cost and discomfort typically associated with a full surgical facelift. Dr. J. David Holcomb, a Sarasota, Florida based double board certified facial plastic surgeon and Medical Director of Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Light and Laser Center, recently introduced the world this past weekend to the future of minimally invasive facial contouring.

Dr. Holcomb, co-developer of the procedure, introduced AccuLift™ to physicians from around the world at the 30th American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ, as well as the 10th International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, FL. These prestigious events are known by the medical elite for introducing the world to the most cutting-edge laser and surgical procedures. Laser Assisted Facial Contouring (LAFC) also known as the AccuLift™ procedure was met with a great reception, and is being called the future of facial contouring.

The AccuLift™ procedure specifically addresses descended fat that accumulates in the midface (nasolabial fold), along the jawline (jowl) and under the chin as we age. Dr. Holcomb notes that gravity is relentless, and that previous approaches that have attempted to lift or reposition descended fat in the face have very limited long-term success. In addition, attempting to camouflage well-formed nasolabial folds or jowls with injectable fillers can quickly leave patients looking unnatural and over-filled.

Differing greatly from a traditional facelift, the non-surgical AccuLift™ procedure utilizes a revolutionary fiberoptic laser, which melts and permanently removes descended fat in the midface through powerful, localized energy. To obtain the full, non-surgical facelift effect, Dr. Holcomb then uses the fiberoptic laser to contour the lower face-removing the jowl and tightening the skin to create a more defined jawline.

To recreate the ultimate look of youth, many patients also benefit from volume replacement. AccuLift™ is not a substitute for volume replacement but it does change the way that facial fillers are used. So for the midface, fat is removed where it accumulates near the nose, but volume is replaced under the high point of the cheekbone. This combination of minimally invasive procedures- where we address the low points or valleys with soft tissue filler and then address the high points or peaks via laser assisted facial contouring (ie AccuLift™)- takes approximately thirty minutes and can deliver fabulous results.

“The AccuLift™ procedure delivers beautiful, natural-looking results, and the extremely precise AccuSculpt™ laser allows us to contour the face safely and effectively,” concludes Dr. Holcomb. “This is truly the new frontier of facial rejuvenation!”

AccuLift™ Facts

• AccuLift™ can be an early intervention to reduce emerging features of aging in the midface, lower face and under the chin and can help delay the need for facelift surgery. It is also a natural adjunct to facelift surgery that promises to enhance the results and dramatically reduce the problem of recurrent gravitational jowling.
• AccuLift™ can be a great touch-up procedure for previous facelift patients that have re-formed jowls.
• Other candidates have accumulated fat in the mid and/or lower face – ranging from younger patients with a round face who desire more sculpted features, to older patients with subtle to more advanced features of aging in the mid and lower face.
• Excess fat is carefully removed in a minimally invasive process requiring only a small needle stick. The laser fiber liquefies the excess fat which is then gently removed with syringe microliposuction. Results are evident immediately and then again within a week or so after initial swelling subsides. The fat removal is permanent and significant skin tightening occurs.
• AccuLift™ is an effective stand alone procedure for patients in early 20s to 80s.
• In addition to addressing the high points with AccuLift™ some patients also need to have the low points addressed with soft tissue augmentation, especially in the midface. Options for these patients include fat grafting, Radiesse injection, facial implant, or Sculptra.
• AccuLift™ allows patients to DEFY GRAVITY! (By removing the tissue bulk we reduce the effect of gravity so that skin is no longer weighed down).
• Skin tightening with AccuLift™ is substantial. However, some patients with advanced skin laxity are likely to need additional measures for maximum skin tightening.
• Removing descended fat in the mid and lower face allows the surgeon to apply/use injectable fillers differently so that results are improved – the fillers are no longer needed to camouflage descended fat and can instead be used to correct true volume deficiency.
• AccuLift™ gives surgeons a new tool, and the ability to easily-effectively-safely remove unwanted fat deposits in the face, enabling more precise three-dimensional contouring of the face.
• The AccuSculpt™ laser is different than other “lipo” lasers – it more precisely targets fat and, therefore, requires less energy and is very safe.

Bio: Dr. J. David Holcomb, M.D. is a double board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, past president of the Florida Society of Facial Plastic Surgeons and the Sarasota County Medical Society. He completed his residency training at the University of Iowa’s Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, which is consistently rated among the best in the country by US News and World Report. Dr. Holcomb subsequently completed a fellowship in advanced cosmetic facial plastic surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. For additional information, please visit http://www.srqfps.com

The first week post rhinoplasty is a time to plan to truly rest, recover and delegate work and childcare to others. It is not uncommon to feel a bit tired having likely undergone general anesthesia during the procedure. Remember, your body is healing from delicate surgery on one of your airways and post surgical swelling and compresses left inside the nose the first few days can temporarily further diminish your breathing and energy levels.

Having just undergone surgery which has reshaped both the outside and inside of your nose, it is vital that you vigilantly protect it during this crucial first phase of healing. You must avoid sustaining any bumps or impacts that might possibly “undo” the corrections that have just been made. Obviously, contact sports are to be avoided. If you wear glasses we will show you how to manage them over your splint. And, as difficult as it may sound, you will need to make arrangements ahead of time for the care of small children who you should not lift or hold in your lap where they may be tempted to grab or touch your nose during this initial healing phase.

Many patients prefer the comforts of home and being out of the public eye that first week while they rest. Splints (tiny ones carefully placed inside and a larger one taped to the outside of your nose) will be in place that first week to reinforce the new framework, helping to secure your nose’s improved shape and function. Splints are customarily removed on the 7th day, when we will see you for your highly anticipated “unveiling” appointment. Some additional swelling is normal after the removal of the splints which will gradually subside over the ensuing weeks and months.

After this 1-week “unveililng” most patients are starting to feel more like themselves and are eager to begin easing back into their social and work environments. You must, however, continue to avoid impacts to the nose and avoid lifting and exertion that could elevate your heart rate and precipitate a nosebleed. It is also important for at least the first 2 weeks to avoid altitude changes (flying). Scuba diving and snorkeling take quite a while longer to return to, as their required masks involve applied pressure around the nose that must be avoided until healing of the treated structures is secure. It can take a full year or more for your nose to fully heal and settle in to its new shape.

It sounds like a lot of “no’s” for those first two weeks, but testimonies from our patients about the life-changing results of rhinoplasty speak to how far and away “worth it” every ounce of prevention is for the resulting cure!

Dr. Holcomb is a board certified Head and Neck Surgeon and board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon whose extensive training, skill and experience make him a sought-after expert for both first-time rhinoplasties to correct both the shape and/or function of the nose and for revising nasal surgeries that did not quite fulfill the patient’s expectations in either form or function. Please visit his “before and after” gallery on the website for more. www.SRQFPS.com.