Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, January
2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I have what they refer to as the “turkey neck” and
want to get rid of it. Is Thermage or some of these
skin tightening lasers going to alleviate or remove
it? ~Claudine, Bellingham, WA
A. Dear Claudine,
“Turkey neck” is one of the most common problems I
deal with. Thermage treatment can offer you
improvement, but it is usually minimal. There is a
range of procedures that can address this; it
depends on your skin type, age, and severity of the
laxity. The procedures range from laser treatment,
to thread lifting, mini facelift, and full facelift.
I recommend a consultation as the first step to
address this. We can discuss different options and
choose the treatment that is best for you. ~Dr.
Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine,
September 2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I had bad acne in my teens and 20’s, and I have been
left with deep scars on my cheeks and forehead. What
is the best procedure to improve the appearance of
my scars?
~Justin, Seattle, WA
A. Dear Justin,
There are different types of acne scars, and they
require different approaches to treatment. We
utilize a combination of surgical excision,
dermabrasion, fillers, and laser therapy. An
exciting new development in this area is
fractionated CO2 laser treatment. Active FX is
currently the best laser on the market, as it allows
deep and narrow penetration of the laser beam with
minimal surface involvement to stimulate collagen
build-up and remodeling with impressive results.
~Dr. Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, June
2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I have been hearing a lot lately about mini
facelifts. Can you tell me the difference between
that and a full facelift?
~Rory, Bellevue, WA
A. Dear Rory,
Mini facelifts indeed have become very popular over
the past several years. In our clinic, it is one of
the most common procedures that we do. In general,
there is less extensive dissection than with the
regular facelift, and subsequently smaller price
tag, shorter recovery and less downtime. Frequently
these procedures can be done under local anesthesia
in the office. We can still combine it with other
procedures, such as eyelid lifts, Botox®, dermal
filler injections such as Restylane® or Juvederm®,
and laser treatments. The effects of a mini facelift
can be less pronounced than a regular facelift, and
many patients actually prefer this. As a note of
caution, different doctors can perform very
different procedures and call them mini facelifts,
so sometimes you don’t know what you are getting. I
would recommend going to an experienced Board
Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon. ~Dr. Stella,
Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, March
2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I have a keloid scar on my ear from a piercing. I
have heard it can come back after it is removed. Is
this true?
~Mimi, Issaquah, WA
A. Dear Mimi,
First, you have to come in for a consult to see
whether you have a true keloid. True keloid scars
can be very difficult to treat. They indeed can come
back after being removed, sometimes multiple times.
Combining the surgical treatment with steroid
injections and occasionally other options can offer
you a higher chance of success. Other scars are
usually much easier to treat by doing a revision,
dermabrasion, and sometimes steroid injections. ~Dr.
Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, April
2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I really look forward to reading your column each
month. I am thinking about getting my upper lids
done but I am only 38. Would I be considered too
young for this procedure?
~Lily, Kenmore, WA
B. Dear Lily,
Upper eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure
that is very individual for each patient. Many
patients do it in their 30’s, but I have had
patients as young as 20’s and as old as 80’s. I
usually don’t recommend waiting so long, as it makes
it more difficult to make it look really good, plus
you miss out on all the time you could have looked
great instead of having saggy eyelids. Sometimes
several strategic Botox® injections are all that is
needed, and you can postpone the surgery for several
more years.
~Dr. Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, May 2008
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I am interested in having a brow lift but don’t know
if I need that or just an upper eyelid lift. I am
only 42. Do you think I am too young for a brow
lift?
~Stacy, Redmond, WA
C. Dear Stacy,
For some women eyebrows get droopy with age, and for
some it is more of a genetic issue as their eyebrows
sit very low on the brow bone from a young age.
Timing for the brow lift is less of a function of
the patient’s age, and more of the facial
aesthetics. A while ago, everybody who came for an
upper lid lift would get a brow lift. Over the
years, as so many women (and men) started walking
around looking very surprised after an excessive
brow lift, the eagerness among surgeons to perform
brow lifts on everyone has declined. Some surgeons
still do them on most patients. I do them very
selectively. If your eyebrows are really low, you
will probably benefit from the brow lift. If your
eyebrows are just a tad low, or in a good position,
I would recommend leaving them alone. ~Dr. Stella,
Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Seattle Magazine, February
2009
Q. Dear Dr. Stella!
I dislike my flat cheeks and have considered cheek
implants for years. Are implants my only option? If
not, how do I know which option is best for me?
~Suzanne, Lynnwood, WA
D. Dear Suzanne,
Everybody likes high cheek bones. Cheek implants are
a great option for the right patient. They come in a
variety of shapes and sizes and can greatly improve
your appearance. We also frequently use Perlane® or
Juvederm® injections for building up the cheek
volume. It is an easy office procedure with no
downtime, and the results are generally amazing. It
would be best to see you in consultation; we can go
over all the options, computer imaging, before and
after photos of previous patients, and decide which
option is best for you.
~Dr. Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Realself.com
Q: Dear Dr. Stella,
How much swelling and bruising will I get from neck
liposuction and a necklift? I am scheduled for Neck
liposuction and a Necklift next week. How much
swelling and bruising should I expect? How long will
it last? ~Asked by cbowlin on RealSelf.com
A: Dear cbowlin,
Swelling and bruising may vary from patient to
patient. Swelling and bruising after surgery may
vary greatly, and depends on your surgeon and your
skin type. However, in general, they may last about
2 weeks with slight residual swelling for up to 2-3
months. ~Dr. Stella, Seattle, WA
Cosmetic Surgery Q&A ~ Realself.com
Q: Dear Dr. Stella,
Am I a good candidate for a brow lift and upper
blepharoplasty surgery? I just turned 35 and noticed
that my eyes are starting to look old. My eyebrows
have dropped slightly and my upper eyelids always
look tired and little puffy no matter how much I
sleep. I have also noticed that my eyes no longer
look as open and don’t have the nice almond shape
they had when I was in my 20's. So I would like to
know if a brow lift combined with a blepharoplasty
would be the right procedures to fix my problems, or
would a brow lift by it self be sufficient?
~Asked by kris911 on RealSelf.com
A: Dear kris911,
Find a good surgeon and build a solid relationship
with this surgeon. Based on your picture alone, I
would be careful recommending any surgery. You are
certainly very young, and should not take this
lightly. It is possible that a conservative brow
lift or possibly upper blepharoplasty will help you
feel better about your eye appearance. I would find
a surgeon that you can develop a good relationship
with, since this is likely to be one of the many
maintenance procedures you will have in future
years. Did you like your nose surgeon? If so, talk
to him or her. Do you have someone doing your Botox
and Restylane injections? If you are comfortable
with this person, talk to them about your concerns.
I have similar patients, and yes, they have many
procedures over the years, and yes, the question of
BDD always comes up. I would make sure you find a
doctor that you feel very comfortable with,
discussing your issues, and who will listen and keep
your interests in mind as opposed to someone who
will do things just to do them. It will be really
important for you to develop a plan with your
doctor, and not do things based on internet
recommendations. ~Dr. Stella, Seattle, WA
RESTYLANE -
JUVEDERM - IPL-PHOTOFACIAL
BOTOX - FACELIFT - MINI FACELIFT
BLEPHAROPLASTY - RHINOPLASTY
Cosmetic Surgery - Seattle, WA
The Stella Center·509 Olive Way,
Suite 1430·Seattle, WA 98101·206-682-3223
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