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If you are seeking an affordable way to improve the appearance of your skin it may be time to consider a chemical peel.  Chemical peels are effective ways to temporarily eliminate the buildup of dead skin cells and debris that can cause your skin to look dull and old.

Chemical peels resurface the skin by gently removing its top layer so that new fresh skin can emerge.  Once newer skin has grown you will see less hyperpigmentation, fewer wrinkles and a more even skin texture.

During treatment a chemical agent is applied to your skin and then washed away within a few minutes. Immediately after this process your skin may be a little pink and feel tight.  Within a few days your skin will begin to naturally peel removing dead, dull skin.  This typically lasts for 3-5 days.

Treatment with chemical peels is temporary and will need to be repeated to maintain your results.

If you would like to learn more about chemical peels contact our office today.

If you are preparing for abdominoplasty surgery, also known as a tummy tuck, there are a few important things that you should keep in mind regarding your recovery.

Though you should expect to need about 12 weeks to make a full recovery, most people return to normal activities in 1-2 weeks. Your body is using significant energy to heal during this time, so it may be 1-2 months until you can do everything you did preoperatively without feeling tired. This time frame could be longer or shorter depending on the level of correction made and your overall health status prior to surgery. By managing these expectations you can better prepare both your household and your mind for recovery.

Other tips include:

• Plan for recovery as you would plan to recover from childbirth. While the treatment is not the same, you may be equally as uncomfortable and moving slowly. We recommend arranging for childcare if needed, plan meals ahead so they can be reheated and easily prepared, and consider hiring someone to help with household chores. It may also take some time for you to be interested in shopping, so be sure to stock up on groceries an other necessities prior to surgery.
• Consider your wardrobe. It is helpful to have a go-to uniform for your recovery period. Plan to wear loose and soft clothing such as soft, stretching leggings or sweatpants. Loose and soft tee shirts will be most comfortable for covering your swollen abdomen.
• Keep your home extra clean. While recovery from major surgery you are more susceptible to colds, viruses and other infections. Stock up on hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap and even body wash. Also be sure to ask your surgeon what supplies you will need to keep your incisions clean.
• Stay hydrated! Drink lots of water following surgery and limit your salt intake to reduce the risk of swelling.
• Engage in light physical activity every day, slowing increasing the amount of work each week. Try to walk for 15 minutes every 2-3 hours in the early days following surgery.
• Avoid driving for two weeks following surgery.

If you have more questions regarding your recovery from tummy tuck surgery – contact our office today.

Patients who have recently lost a significant amount of weight due to diet and exercise or even gastric bypass surgery have a great deal to be proud of as the pounds melt off of their body. However, for those patients that spent years carrying around extra pounds, the skin has likely stretched beyond natural repair.

Many patients love the results they’ve seen with their weight loss efforts, but the sudden change in body shape and size can lead to a great deal of excess skin that is left behind. Unfortunately, this excess skin can never be corrected with diet and exercise. In most situations it will have to be removed by surgical means.

Don’t leave your weight loss journey unfinished, contact Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center today to learn more about the surgical elimination of your excess, sagging skin. Our team of professionals is happy to advise you of your surgical options, including:

• a tummy tuck
• thigh lifts
• buttocks lift
• arm lifts
• breast lift
• face and neck lifts

Don’t hesitate to look and feel your best for good. After all, you’ve earned it! Contact Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center for more information about excess skin removal today.

The effects of premature aging are never so noticeable as they are on our face.  Over time, exposure to the wind and sun, the effects of gravity and our lifestyle choices can all begin to make us look older than we truly are or feel.  One of the most common complaints of Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center’s patients is the onset of wrinkles.  Even the youngest of cosmetic patients visit our office seeking preemptive treatment of their finest lines and wrinkles.

Botox and other botulinum toxin products are some of the most widely used cosmetic treatments in the dermatology market today. This is because they are effective at preventing wrinkles before they ever form. Botox is relatively affordable  and could last between 3 – 6 months, or possibly a little longer. Although the length of results varies with each person.

Botox is an FDA-approved, injectable liquid that is injected directly into the tiny facial muscles that can cause wrinkles to form. Botox temporarily paralyzes these muscles, preventing wrinkles from forming.  It is common to receive Botox injections in the forehead, in between your eyebrows and at the corners of your eyes and mouth.

However, while many patients fall in love with the immediate and effective results of Botox for cosmetic purposes – many may not realize the additional advantages to Botox.  When injected into other areas of the body, Botox can reduce excessive sweating, relieve migraine pain, improve vocal chord performance and even improve bladder function.

Contact the Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center today to learn more about how Botox can improve your appearance as well as your overall health.

Has your natural appearance, or even age and time caused your eyelid tissue to sag, droop or otherwise age? Our eyes are one of the first areas to show our age – sometimes showing signs of aging prematurely, causing us to feel self-conscious.

Both male and female patients of all ages visit Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center seeking visible improvement to their drooping eyelids. An eyelid lift can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid, either widening the eye from above by eliminating excess skin, or by eliminating drooping, dark circles below the eyes.

Some younger patients are born with sagging eyelid skin that can actually compromise their vision over time presenting danger while driving or during other activities. For these patients whose vision has been compromised, at any age, insurance coverage may be available for part or all of their eyelid lift procedure.

Eyelid lifts can be performed in office in as little as an hour. Your surgeon will make discreet incisions within the natural creases of your eyelids so that your scars will be barely noticeable once healed. Once the excess skin is removed and the muscles surrounding your eyelids are gently tightened, stitches or surgical tape will be used to close your incisions.

Side effects of eyelid lifts may include swelling of the area around the eyes, bruising, redness, bleeding, or in very rare instances, infection. Swelling and bruising will subside on their own, within a week or two of surgery.

If you would like a brighter, more wide-eyed and youthful appearance, contact Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center today to learn more about eyelid lift surgery.

Has age, weight loss or other life activities (such as pregnancy or breast feeding) caused your breasts to lose their shape or even change position? Over time it is very common for women to see their breast tissue begin to sag or for the skin around their breasts to wrinkle and fall.

While breast augmentation surgery, which enlarges the breasts, remains the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in the country – breast lifts are gaining in popularity every year. For those women who seek to maintain their current breast size, avoid implants, and achieve natural-looking results a breast lift may be the perfect surgical solution.

Rather than filling your breast cavity with an implant, causing your breasts to appear larger and fuller, a breast lift will simply eliminate excess skin from the area around your breasts and lift the nearby skin and breast tissue. This will allow your breasts to look much like they used to, with a higher, perkier shape as well as achieving an improved contour.

Breast lift surgery is a great solution for those patients who still want to feel and look naturally beautiful. The procedure can be performed in our office in a couple of hours. You will be required to undergo anesthesia so it is important to have someone help transport you home following surgery. Your breasts will be wrapped immediately after surgery to help reduce the chances of swelling or bleeding, and you may even have a drain placed below the surface of the skin to also help with these side effects.

Within weeks your swelling and bruising will subside and you will begin to see dramatic and beautiful results from your breast lift surgery. Contact Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center today to learn more about how a breast lift can improve your appearance and restore your confidence.

Research Cosmetic Surgery using Google

Cosmetic Surgery research is done a number of ways. There’s no stopping the increasing number of people who use social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Last 2012, it was estimated that there are roughly 850 monthly active users on Facebook and approximately 1 million accounts added on Twitter every day. So it won’t be much of a surprise if more people turn to social media to find the cosmetic surgeon of their choice. Here at our Texas cosmetic surgery practice, we encourage our clients to get to know their surgeon in person, aside from reading about the doctor’s credentials on social media sites.

Increasing Online Presence in Cosmetic Surgery

In 2011, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed in a report that roughly 42 percent of patients got information on cosmetic surgery via social media. In response, cosmetic surgeons are increasing their online presence through websites, social media, blogs, and videos posted on Facebook and YouTube. A good number make it a point to answer patient questions and share relevant studies to better inform patients interested in cosmetic surgery about procedures, expected outcomes, and possible risks.

Researching Cosmetic Surgery via Social Media

Dr. Peterson and the rest of the team at the Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center, PA are huge supporters of using social media as an educational resource for those considering cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, Botox® injections, chemical peels, or dermal fillers.

Social Media won’t tell you everything you need to know to choose a cosmetic surgeon. A doctor’s personality can only be determined through a face-to-face consultation. During personal visits, you will get to know the surgeon and staff of the cosmetic surgery center. The surgeon’s bedside manners and ability to make you feel comfortable during your consultation is just as important as credentials. We encourage those who want to learn more to schedule an appointment with Dr. Peterson for a personal consultation.

During your consultation,  Dr. Peterson will listen carefully to your treatment goals and address any concerns before creating a treatment plan best suited to address your needs. We firmly believe that a well-informed patient is the key to a successful cosmetic surgery outcome. Contact us at (817) 579-5476 or fill out this contact form to schedule an initial consultation with us! You can also visit our Facebook page for interesting articles, guides, and promos!

Aging causes lips to lose volume over time. Lips that were once full and pouty begin to thin out and develop lines and creases. Sound familiar? More and more patients desire to improve the look of their lips and make them plumper and more luscious.

Can injectable fillers restore volume to lips?

While there are many methods that can be used to enhance the lips, the most common is the use of injectable fillers. Dermal fillers come in different forms. However, most clinics today use hyaluronic acid (ha) fillers to keep the procedure as natural as possible.

HA fillers work  by adding volume, structure, and shape. Think of injectable filler as scaffolding. Injectable fillers build up the foundation of the lips, resulting in improved fullness and reduction in fine lines and creases.

The results of using injectable fillers for lip enhancement last from six months to a year. A follow-up treatment is necessary to keep the appearance of fullness in the lips.

There are many benefits of choosing ha fillers for lip enhancement over others. These include:

• Results are immediate.
• More control over the desired volume of the lip. Your doctor will be able to closely control the amount of substance that will be injected to your lips, making it easier to achieve your aesthetic goals.
• If too much filler is injected, it can be easily dissolved using an injectable “eraser” called hyaluronidase.
• Movement of the lips may create lumps and bumps during or soon after injection. Injectable fillers made of hyaluronic acid are easily massaged out.
• Less bruising is expected. Compared to other injectable dermal fillers, you will only experience minimal bruising and swelling with ha fillers.
• Allergic reaction is unlikely. Since ha is a natural substance produced by the body, you are less likely to experience an allergic reaction from treatment.

If you wish to learn more about lip enhancement, request a personal consultation with Dr. Peterson by calling 817-579-5476. Dr. Peterson will provide you with more information, answer your questions, and help you determine the kind of lip enhancement that is most suitable for you.

When the signs of aging start to appear on the face, a person may lose his or her youthful look. A lot of people have the desire to reverse these signs yet do not wish to undergo anything invasive. Here at Lakecrest Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dr. Peterson offers Juvederm in Granbury to help patients look younger and fresher. Improving your appearance has never been this quick and easy.

Before you schedule your Juvederm appointment, you have to find out first if you are a good candidate or not.

Who is a good candidate for Juvederm?

A person who wants to reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep facial wrinkles may be a good candidate for Juvederm treatments. Juvederm is also appropriate for those who want to add volume to the face and improve facial contour.

Someone who wishes to plump up the lips or add definition to the cheeks can benefit from Juvederm, too.

A good candidate should have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do and what it cannot do. It is important to realize that although dermal fillers offer long-lasting effects, these effects are temporary and go away. Effects usually last for 6 months to a year.

The ideal candidate also understands that follow-up treatment may be needed to obtain optimal results and maintain the effects of the treatment.

If you would like to diminish the signs of aging on your face without experiencing any downtime, consider Juvederm. Set an appointment with us today by calling 817-579-5476 and learn more about how you can look years younger with the help of dermal fillers. We look forward to hearing from you!

Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen. Sunscreen alone is not enough, however. Read our full list of skin cancer prevention tips.

1. Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
2. Do not burn.
3. Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
4. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
5. Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
6. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
7. Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
8. Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
9. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

Signs of Melanoma (ABCDE’s)

• A – Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half
• B – Border: Irregular, ragged edges
• C – Color: More than 1 color; shades of black, brown, and tan may be present; areas of white, gray, pink, red, or blue may also be seen
• D – Diameter: Larger than a pea (¼ inch, or 6 millimeters), though some melanomas can be tiny
• E – Evolving: Changing size, shape, or color over time 

A – Asymmetry.  Draw an imaginary line down the middle of any mole and ask yourself if the two halves match.  Ordinary moles are usually round and symmetrical, while melanomas are often asymmetrical.

B – Border.  Ordinary moles are round or oval and have well-defined, smooth, even borders.  Melanomas often have irregular, uneven, or notched borders.  Also, pigment spreading from the border of the mole into surrounding skin is a warning sign of melanoma.

C – Color. Ordinary moles are usually one even color throughout and are most often brown, tan, or flesh colored.  If your mole has several colors – including black, brown, red, white, and blue – or an irregular pattern of colors, it may be melanoma.

D – Diameter.  Watch for a change in the size of your moles.  Ordinary moles are generally less than six millimeters (a quarter of an inch) in diameter, or about the diameter of a pencil eraser.  Melanomas may be as small as an eighth of an inch, but they are more often larger.

E – Evolving.  While “E” for evolving is not part of the classic mnemonic, it is important to know that ordinary moles usually do not change over time.  A mole that changes in size, shape, shades of color, surface or symptoms may be a symptom of  melanoma.  If it tingles, itches, burns, or feels strange, it may be evolving and should be checked.

Other warning signs include a sore that does not heal or any change in the surface of a mole, such as scaliness, oozing or bleeding.  If you have melanoma, you may experience only one of the symptoms described above.  You do not need to experience all of these symptoms to have melanoma.  Any suspicious change in a mole should be evaluated by a doctor immediately.

Keep copies of the ABCDE’s of melanoma nearby when you perform routine body checks.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also come from tanning booths or sunlamps. The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is called melanoma.

The good news? Skin cancer can almost always be cured when it’s found and treated early. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to prevent skin cancer or detect it early on.

Make a difference: Spread the word about strategies for preventing skin cancer and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

How Many People Get Skin Cancer?

• More than 2 million people in the United States are diagnosed with nonmelanoma (basal or squamous cell) skin cancer each year
• The number of new melanoma cases increases each year. In 2014, it is estimated that there will be almost 140,000 new cases of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. By 2015, it is expected that about 1 in 50 Americans will develop melanoma in their lifetime
• About 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

Be Skin Cancer AWARE

A: Avoid unprotected UV exposure and seek shade

W: Wear sun protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses

A: Apply sunscreen generously and often

R: Routinely check your skin and report changes

E: Educate yourself and others

Websites for info:

http://www.sunaware.org/2010/09/15/skin-cancer-mnemonic-still-good-after-25-years/

Great site for info: http://www.informationaboutcancer.com/skin-cancer/learning-about/library

http://www.skincancer.org/media-and-press/Press-Release-2011/skin-cancer-awareness-month-reminder