For patients seeking noticeable improvement in the appearance of the lower face, facelift remains the most popular and effective choice. In recent years there has also been an explosion in alternatives available to patients who seek to restore a youthful glow to a time-worn face and neck.

These advanced options include many new noninvasive products and techniques. Here, experienced Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Ereso discusses this ever-expanding array of choices. Continue reading “Best Anti-Aging Procedures for the Lower Face and Neck” →

Jowls are a common sign of aging caused by several factors. The skin around the chin can become loose and saggy over time, creating droopy folds that obscure the jawline. The cheekbones can shrink and the fat around the cheeks can descend, pooling under the natural cheek area. All of these factors give the lower face a heavy and aged appearance.

If you’ve noticed jowls developing on your own face, you are probably interested in how to make them go away. Read on as the team at Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center explains the best treatment options for jowls. Continue reading “Best Treatment Options for Jowls” →

Facial plastic surgery is designed to refine or improve areas of the face to increase self-confidence. Dr. Alexander Ereso can attest that facial plastic surgery is not right for everyone. There are certain criteria interested a person must meet in order to be considered a suitable candidate.

Here, Bay Area cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ereso reveals some of the signs that you are a good candidate for facial plastic surgery.

You want to minimize signs of facial aging.

If you are bothered by loose, saggy skin, deep creases, wrinkles or jowls, you may be an excellent candidate for facial plastic surgery in the Bay Area. Injectables and skin resurfacing procedures can minimize some of the mild to moderate signs of aging, but if these problems are more serious in nature, a plastic surgery procedure such as faceliftor eyelid surgery is probably the more effective option.

You have always been self-conscious of a particular feature.

If there is something about your facial appearance that has always bothered you – for example, your nose doesn’t quite “fit” your face or you inherited your mother and grandmother’s under-eye bags – consider surgical correction. Modifying whatever feature bothers you can dramatically boost your self-image and confidence. For some people, facial plastic surgery procedures like rhinoplasty can improve their mental state considerably.

You are in good health.

A facial plastic surgery candidate’s health is evaluated thoroughly before recommending surgery. No reputable plastic surgeon will perform elective surgery on a patient that is in poor health. Expect to discuss your current health and medical history with your plastic surgeon during consultation. S/he will ask you if you have any serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.

You have reasonable expectations.

Another indication that you are a good candidate for plastic surgery is that you know what is and isn’t achievable. Candidates that expect perfection will be disappointed and should avoid surgery. But if you have realistic expectations and desire improvement, you are probably a suitable candidate.

You understand the risks of surgery.

No surgery is completely free of risk. To qualify for surgery, you must understand and accept the risk that something could go awry. Of course, the best way to mitigate these risks is to work with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ereso. Our surgeon will explain the risks of the procedure you are considering and what we do to minimize those risks.

Discuss Your Facial Plastic Surgery Options with Our Plastic Surgeons

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Ereso, please call or email Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center today.

Anyone would take looking younger, happier and more well-rested over looking older, tired and upset. Cosmetic procedures like facelift and brow lift surgery will subtract several years’ worth of aging from the face, but what if you’re not ready for surgery? Not to fret (it causes frown lines anyway!). Dr. Pearl offers non-surgical alternatives to restore a smoother, more youthful look to the face, from top to bottom.

Botox for Frown Lines and Crow’s Feet

Botox, a derivative of the naturally occurring substance Botulinum Toxin A, is used to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on the face, including frown lines on the forehead and crow’s feet lines on the outer corners of the eyes. This less invasive alternative to facelift surgery temporarily relaxes the facial muscles that contract to cause these lines to form.

Restylane Fillers for Under the Eyes

The Restylane dermal filler, an injectable with a firm consistency, is ideal for filling in hollow areas under the eyes, as well as lessening the appearance of dark circles and under-eye bags. The youthful, rejuvenating effect that Restylane has on the eyes – and the entire appearance of the face – lasts six months or longer.

Juvéderm for the Lips and Smile Lines

Juvéderm gel has a smooth consistency that, when injected, adds volume to the area being treated, dramatically reducing or eliminating the appearance of wrinkles in that area. This transparent filler made up of biocompatible materials effectively fills the fine lines that form around the lips and mouth with age. It is also ideal for lip augmentation, giving the mouth a plumper, yet natural-looking, pout that is reminiscent of youth.

Voluma for the Cheeks and Jawline

Voluma is a dermal gel filler that is most often used in the cheek and jaw area, in order to fill out a hollowed-looking face (an effect that sometimes occurs as we age). This filler, which is injected deep within the facial tissue, supports the overlying skin and results in accentuated, filled out cheekbones and a sleeker jawline. And these beautiful results can last up to two years!

Treatments for the Entire Face

For better overall skin texture, Dr. Pearl offers Fraxel Skin Resurfacing, a revolutionary skin care treatment that merges laser technology with dermatology to erase skin damage and restore a more supple texture to the face. This FDA-approved treatment is used on acne scars, stretch marks, large pores, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation. Fraxel uses pinpoints of laser light to penetrate deep into the skin’s surface, eliminating damaged skin cells and promoting new skin cell growth in their place. It is safe and effective for all skin types.

At Pearl – Ereso Plastic Surgery Center, we also offer our patients the SilkPeel® Dermalinfusion skin care procedure, which is similar to microdermabrasion in that it exfoliates the topmost layers of the skin. However, unlike microdermabrasion, it also employs the soothing and smoothing effect of any number of topical serums hand-picked for your specific skin care needs.

If you’re unsure about what skin care treatment would be right for you, contact our office to schedule a skin care evaluation so that we can personalize your treatment. We also offer home treatment programs tailor-made for treating skin conditions and restoring a healthy, more youthful glow to your skin.

To find out more about our non-surgical treatment options for beautifying the face, schedule a personal consultation today with Dr. Pearl by calling our Mountain View office at (650) 964-6690.

Otoplasty is a procedure to improve the shape or position of the ears. It is commonly performed on ears that: a) are large in proportion to the rest of the facial features; b) protrude to a significant degree from the head; or c) are irregularly shaped. Dr. Ereso offers otoplasty at his Mountain View plastic surgery practice. He would be happy to meet with you to discuss the procedure in further detail and to determine whether it is a good fit for your needs.

Otoplasty Candidates

Otoplasty can help individuals that are bothered by unattractive or disfigured ears, including ears that are:

• Oversized
• Asymmetrical
• Protruding
• Misshaped
• Have a congenital or acquired irregularity (e.g., “lop ear,” in which the tip of the ear folds down; or “shell ear,” in which the natural curves and folds of the ear are missing)

Otoplasty candidates should be physically and psychologically healthy, not smoke and not have any life-threatening medical conditions that could affect the surgical healing process. Ideally, candidates have a positive outlook regarding the surgery and reasonable goals and expectations that can be clearly communicated to Dr. Ereso.

Is Otoplasty Safe for Children?

Otoplasty may be safely performed on children, adolescents and adults. Performing otoplasty on a child can prevent possible psychological trauma from classmates’ teasing or bullying.

It is recommended that children seeking otoplasty be at least 5 or 6 years old before undergoing surgery – by that age, the ear cartilage is stable enough for correction. Young candidates will be carefully screened to ensure they are cooperative and can follow instructions.

More about the Surgery

Otoplasty is generally performed on an outpatient basis. Anesthesia medications are used for patient comfort.

Dr. Ereso will make the incisions behind the ear. Through the incisions, he will resize and sculpt the supporting tissue of the ears to bring them into better proportion with the head and/or position them closer to the head (“ear pinning” ). Or, Dr. Ereso may correct any structural irregularities, such as “shell ear” or “lop ear.” Non-removable sutures may be placed internally to support the ear’s new structure. When Dr. Ereso is finished making the surgical modifications, he will close the incisions with sutures and place soft dressings.

Following surgery, the ears may feel numb. Also, there may be mild swelling or bruising. These side effects will improve with time. Any pain can be controlled with oral medication as prescribed by Dr. Ereso. It’s important to avoid straining, bending, heavy lifting or any activities that could result in sudden, harmful contact to the ears. Dr. Ereso will advise when it is safe to return to school or work, exercise and other normal activities.

Once the ears have healed, they will look more proportional to your head and well positioned. Any irregularities in shape will be corrected. Over time, scarring will fade. Any visible scars will be hidden within the natural creases of the skin.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Ereso

To learn more about otoplasty, please contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Ereso. Call (650) 964-6600 or send us an email at [email protected].

At our practice, we’ve seen the incredible rejuvenating effects of dermal filler injectable treatment. However, one of the downsides of dermal filler treatment is that it often leads to bruising and swelling.

With the DermaSculpt Microcannula, we can now administer injections of dermal filler with 70-percent less bruising (and other added benefits!). We are pleased to offer this revolutionary treatment to our patients who want a younger and more vibrant-looking facial appearance, with minimal side effects.

What Is the DermaSculpt Microcannula?

The DermaSculpt Microcannula is a small, flexible tube with a rounded tip that we use to inject products such as JUVÉDERM™, Restylane®, Radiesse® and SCULPTRA® into areas of the face. Thanks to the Microcannula’s unique design, the filler is delivered into the treatment area via a single point of entry but can reach a wide range of coverage.

What Can the DermaSculpt Microcannula Treat?

The DermaSculpt Microcannula can be used for various dermal fillers applications, including treatment to:

• Fill in smile lines
• Smooth depressions around the sides of the mouth
• Enhance the lips
• Lift the brow
• Fill in hollow temples
• Improve the contours of the cheeks

Advantages of the DermaSculpt Microcannula

The DermaSculpt Microcannula causes minimal pain (if any) both during and after treatment. By nature, the Microcannula is significantly less traumatic on the blood vessels and nerves than traditional dermal filler treatment. It causes 70-percent less bruising and swelling, as well as minimal downtime and post-operative discomfort. Treatment with the Microcannula is optimal for patients who are on-the-go and don’t have a lot of time to recover from injectable treatment.

Additionally, the Microcannula enhances the precision and accuracy of dermal filler treatment. With the Microcannula, we are able to target two – and sometimes three – treatment areas through a single injection port. Also, the overall time of treatment is significantly reduced with the Microcannula.

Learn More About Dermal Filler Treatment With the DermaSculpt Microcannula

If you’re interested in having your dermal filler treatment performed with the Microcannula technique, please contact Dr. Ereso’s office by calling (650) 964-6600.