Answers from January 2013, submitted by James Chan MD, Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

1. How long do the results of an Ultherapy procedure last?

Depending on how quickly your body breakdowns collagen will determine how long your results will last. Everyone naturally breaks down collagen and there is no way to predict what your specific time line will be. This is why having more than one Ultherapy treatment over the course of time can help maintain or increase your collagen levels. Consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to see if you are a good candidate for Ultherapy or if there are alternatives for anti-aging that may be a better option for you.

2. Will my insurance pay for Blepharoplasty? Does insurance cover eyelid surgery?

In some instances insurance will cover an upper Blepharoplasty if your vision is impaired due to excess eyelid skin. However, you typically must see an eye doctor first, who will put you through a series of tests to see if you qualify. Consult with your doctor to see if you are a potential candidate for an insurance related upper Blepharoplasty.

3. When is Blepharoplasty medically necessary?

Upper Blepharoplasty may be medically necessary and in some cases covered by insurance if your vision is impaired due to excess upper eyelid skin. Insurance companies typically have you see an eye doctor first, who will put you through a series of tests to see if you qualify. Consult with your doctor to see if you are a potential candidate for insurance related upper Blepharoplasty then consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon who takes insurance claims.

4. Asian Double Eyelid Surgery recovery time.

Recovery time for double eyelid surgery is about one week. However, if you are concerned about scars and residual swelling you may need to plan for a longer recovery time. It’s hard to predict specific healing/recovery times because everybody is different. Consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to see if you are a candidate for double eyelid surgery and based on your personal health history what your recovery time may be.

5. How is a Face Lift different than a Mini-face Lift or Mid-Face Lift?

Most “face lifts” pertain to lifting the lower face and neck and sometimes eyelid surgery or a brow lift is included. A face lift typically means lifting and trimming excess skin and, most importantly tightening the underlying muscle layer (SMAS). There are many versions of the “mini-lift” and most do not adequately address the underlying muscle (SMAS) layer which leads to inadequate lifting, or decreased longevity of the procedure. However, there are situations in which a mini-lift might be appropriate, and you should talk to your facial plastic surgeon specifically about whether you are a good candidate. Addressing and treating the mid-face, the area around your nose and mouth, is a challenging area because the treatment options do carry some risk to the facial nerve, and the outcomes can vary. Depending on what technique is used, combined with the surgeon’s skill, can determine the length of recovery time. Discuss your options with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to determine if you are a good candidate for any of these procedures.

As attention has focused heavily on bullying among young children in this country, there is a growing desire to have plastic surgery procedures at a young age.  Specifically, children can face an enormous amount of ridicule surrounding the appearance of their nose, and this can lead to a desire for Portland Rhinoplasty.  Portland Parents and self-conscious young patients often want to change their appearance to curb bullying at a young age, but are often concerned about the safety and efficacy of having a rhinoplasty done at such a young age.  The pressure from peers can be overwhelming for children, and parents may want to have cosmetic surgical procedures done immediately to alleviate the pressure their children may feel to fit in.  All options should be weighed carefully and a rhinoplasty should only be done for the right reasons.

Mental Maturity vs. Physical Age

As with any plastic surgery procedure, it is important to weigh all options carefully with a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon.  Often times more important than the physical age is the mental maturity of a young patient.  Plastic surgery is something that should never be taken lightly.  As with any surgical procedure, rhinoplasty comes with risks, and patients should be able to weigh the risks against potential benefits.  A young patient’s frame of mind and reason for choosing plastic surgery should also be considered.  If a young patient decides to have plastic surgery for all the wrong reasons, it could lead to being dissatisfied with the final results.

The physical age shouldn’t be seen as a number, as much as a level of physical maturation.  That is to say, since children tend to develop physically at different rates, there is not a gold standard for age and plastic surgery.  Generally, patients should wait until their bony and soft facial tissue has fully developed.  This will decrease the chance of growth and aging affecting the final results of a successful rhinoplasty.  Generally, patients that are 14-16 years old have physically matured enough to have a rhinoplasty, but most of time waiting until growth is complete at the age of 18-21 is better.  Other variables are also considered including whether the patient has nasal obstruction or difficulty breathing through the nose.  This might prompt an intervention sooner, even if it is a very limited surgery.  The age at which one considers a rhinoplasty is an estimate since development can differ from patient to patient.

How do you know if you’re ready for rhinoplasty?

It’s always a good idea to start with a consultation.  Portland Plastic Surgeon, Dr. James Chan meets with each patient individually to determine if they are good candidates for rhinoplasty.  As long as a patient is physically and mentally mature, a rhinoplasty can be a reasonable option to change the shape or size of the nose.  If you have any questions or concerns about the effect of age on a rhinoplasty surgery, Schedule a Free Consultation with Dr. James Chan today.

There is a common misconception that thicker skin eliminates Portland Rhinoplasty patients from having the procedure done.  This is absolutely not true.  Thicker skin around the nose can be genetic, or sometimes seen in patients who have had previous surgeries that develop scar tissue.  While it is important to note this component when preparing for a rhinoplasty surgery or revision rhinoplasty, it does not by itself make someone an unlikely candidate for successful surgery.  Thicker skin is just one component of one of the most complex plastic surgery procedures to be considered.

Does thicker skin make rhinoplasty more difficult?

Thicker skin does not make the procedure more difficult, but rather makes the surgical approach slightly different.  While thicker skin can make refining the nose slightly more difficult, it can also help to hide some irregularities.  In some cases, patients with thicker skin may also have more cartilage underneath the skin that can add another complexity to a traditional rhinoplasty procedure.  During an initial consultation, Dr. James Chan will assess the current condition of the nose and make note of any additional circumstances that may impact the surgical approach.

Dr. James Chan meets with each patient individually to assess the individual needs of the patient before deciding which approach will yield the best results.  Dr. Chan considers skin type, ethnic background, previous surgeries and your goals and expectations during an initial examination.  Taking all of your individual characteristics into account will increase the likelihood of achieving the most natural-looking unaltered appearance.

If you are interested in learning more about Rhinoplasty in Portland, OR, Schedule a Free Consultation with Portland Plastic Surgeon, Dr. James Chan today!  During the initial consultation, Dr. Chan will assess your current situation as well as address any concerns or questions you may have surrounding the rhinoplasty surgery.  Once Dr. Chan understands your individual circumstances and your desired results, he will create a customized plan of action to achieve the very best results.

Help our neighbors in need this holiday season. Donate food items and receive 10% off any aesthetic treatment Nov 1st through Dec 21^st. Call for more information on how you can help! 503.953.1230

Oregon Food Bank Mission: To eliminate hunger and its root causes … because no one should be hungry.

Oregon Food Bank takes a holistic approach to ending hunger by bringing our community together to provide food, education and hope to our neighbors in need.

Oregon Food Bank provides emergency food to people who are hungry through a cooperative statewide network of hunger-relief agencies, helping 1 in 5 households fend off hunger. OFB also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger by advocating for fair public policies, strengthening community food systems and providing nutrition and garden education to help people become more self-sufficient and resourceful

Hunger is an income issue.

Growing levels of long-term unemployment have forced more and more people to seek emergency food assistance.

More than 73 percent of households receiving emergency food report incomes below the federal poverty level – $22,050 for a family of four.

PROJECT LIFT

Featured on AM North West KATU TV Oct 17th: Reviance® joins forces with Clackamas Women’s Services!
Taking action and raising awareness CAN make a difference… Call us and we can let you know how YOU can make a difference!

Hi Dr. Chan and Yvonne,

I wanted to write and thank-you for the opportunity to let people know about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and also about CWS. We were able to get out a lot of information in a short time AND our information is listed on their website!! I actually had someone see us on the show, bring in some clothing donations and is now coming to our luncheon next week! So that is a very visible start for us! I hope our partnership creates good things for Reviance® as well!!

Again our sincere thanks!

Blessings!

Pamela

Development Director

Clackamas Women’s Services

Réviance® Portland to donate portion of profits to Clackamas Women’s Services

By J Schneider

October 3, 2012

Portland, Oregon – In honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, you can help support local women who are survivors of domestic violence while enjoying an age-reversing non-surgical treatment through Project LIFT.

Dr. James Chan’s facial plastic surgery and aesthetic practice, Reviance® Portland, announced a cross-promotional partnership today with Clackamas Women’s Services in Oregon that will result in financial and service donations to benefit survivors of domestic violence.

“We are excited that Dr. Chan is choosing to support CWS and hope that our partnership will raise awareness for women in our area facing domestic and sexual violence. We want the community to know that we offer a safe place for survivors to find support and affirmation as they strive to become violence-free and self-sufficient,” said Executive Director Melissa Erlbaum.

New and established patients of Reviance® Portland can help support women who are victims of domestic and sexual violence when they elect to receive an Ultherapy Treatment, as a portion of all treatment proceeds are earmarked for Clackamas Women’s Services (CWS).

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, James Chan, MD, specializes in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and will donate a portion of Ultherapy treatment sales in October as part of his commitment to support CWS as part of his Project LIFT campaign, a program created to drive charitable contributions to help survivors of domestic violence. Ultherapy is the first and only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment to lift facial skin.

“Working with Clackamas Women’s Services through Project LIFT is a meaningful way for us at Reviance® Portland to support women who have faced domestic violence and give them the encouragement they need to face a new life with greater self-esteem,” said Dr. Chan. “We are honored to be part of the effort to foster self-empowerment of women so they can establish lives free of domestic violence.”

Project LIFT campaign hopes proceeds and subsequent treatments will “lift” the spirits and lives of the women it supports. Dr. Chan and Reviance® Portland plan to continue partnership work with CWS after October to offer other services and treatments to select CWS clients as part of an ongoing, supportive commitment.

Ultherapy treatment proceeds that benefit Clackamas Women’s Services are available through the month of October at Reviance® Portland located at 9200 SE 91^st Avenue, Suite 210, Portland, OR 97086. More information can be found at: http://revianceportland.com/  More information about Clackamas Women’s Services can be found at http://www.cwsor.org/about_us.htm

Contact Information:

Yvonne Troutman

Office: 503-953-1230

Email: ytroutman@reviance.com

It’s an interesting question.  Let’s start first with the popularity of plastic surgery among the Asian community.  If I were to ask you, where are the most plastic surgery procedures performed per capita, what would you guess?  The United States?  Brazil?  Would you be surprised if I told you it was South Korea?  In South Korea, it is estimated that 1 in 5 women have plastic surgery of some sort.  Men also account for an estimated 30% of all plastic surgery procedures performed in South Korea.  With plastic surgery growing in popularity among the Asian culture, there is no doubt that advanced procedures and techniques are required to adjust to different anatomical features.

At Reviance® Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center, we understand that different ethnicities have different anatomical traits, and that patient’s want to look natural.  That is why we have designed advanced techniques and treatments to achieve excellent results, while still maintaining a patient’s inherent ethnic identity and appearance.  At my Portland, Oregon practice, we specialize in Asian Plastic Surgery, performing Asian Facelifts, Asian Eyelid Surgery and Asian Rhinoplasty.

While many plastic surgery procedures deal with the aesthetic appearance of the face, Asian Eyelid Surgery can also help to improve vision.  Nearly half of the Asian population has a fold above the eyelashes.  In extreme cases, this fold can actually impair vision and function.  Asian Eyelid Surgery can help achieve a “double-eyelid” appearance as well as improve vision in these cases.

Whether it is patients who want to have “double-eyelids”, or patients who want a more refined nose or neckline, Reviance® Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center in Portland, Oregon can help.  Most importantly, Reviance® Portland understands that preserving ethnic identity is important when performing Asian Plastic Surgery and should never be overlooked.

Contact Reviance® Portland today to see if Asian Plastic Surgery may be right for you.  Using only advanced and minimally invasive techniques, Reviance® has the experience and skill to deliver quality results.

Would you be surprised if I told you that it is possible for there to be no recovery or down-time?  In some circumstances, a new advanced procedure called Ultherapy can deliver the results without having to take time off from work or limit daily activities.  A traditional surgical facelift remains the most popular way to improve the appearance of the face and neck area.  Ultherapy, or the ultrasound facelift can be an alternative.  In Portland, patients can now look rejuvenated and more youthful without actually having to undergo a surgical procedure.

Reviance® Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center in Portland, Oregon, offers a number of non-invasive facial rejuvenation solutions that can deliver amazing results.  Especially in circumstances where patients may not be surgical candidates, Ultherapy is a great alternative.  Since there are no incisions involved in the procedure, patients with pre-existing health concerns may be a perfect candidate for Ultherapy.

Ultherapy uses ultrasound technology to treat the deep support structures of the skin.  By targeting the same underlying muscles that are typically repaired in a traditional facelift, Ultherapy can actually strengthen the skin from within.  The ultrasound technology will deliver a natural lift and more youthful appearance.

How many Ultherapy treatments will I need?

Here’s another thing that may surprise you!  Since Ultherapy actually strengthens the underlying structures that support the skin, Ultherapy can be a one treatment solution!  Unlike fillers and injectables, this is not a procedure that will require repeated visits.  Of course, like any other plastic surgery procedure performed at my Portland, Oregon practice, Ultherapy will not stop the effects of aging from appearing over time.  Many patients love the results so much that they will have the procedure repeated as signs of aging begin to show.  For many Portland patients, one treatment is enough to deliver amazing results and a much more youthful appearance.

Have a lunch break?  Get Ultherapy!

Since this is a non-invasive procedure, you can have great results after a 45-90 minute treatment!  You can literally have a non-invasive facelift procedure done during your lunch break.  Most importantly, you won’t miss a beat in your busy schedule.  Contact Reviance® Portland today to schedule your free consultation.

One of the things I hear every day as a rhinoplasty surgeon in Portland is “I’ve always hated my nose, but I’ve been too scared to do something about it.”  I wanted to take a moment to tell you-you are not alone.  Not alone in wanting to change your nose, and not alone in being scared.  You have probably been worried about the recovery time and if you’ll like the results.  These fears are completely natural.

First, let’s discuss the results that you’ll see from your rhinoplasty procedure.  Immediately following the procedure, the nose will need several weeks before it takes its final shape.  Your nose will undergo significant changes in the first two to twelve weeks following rhinoplasty.  As the swelling gradually dissipates, the newly refined appearance of the nose will become more visible.   Usually, after 1-2 weeks, the majority of the bruising and swelling have gone down and the casual observer won’t notice at first glance that your nose has been operated on.  To you, your nose may look a little puffy for several months.  The swelling can take a number of months to fully dissipate, but should become less and less noticeable over time.

Knowing that there are options for improving the shape of your nose and the ability to breathe better is incredibly empowering.  Portland rhinoplasty success stories are heard every day, and we are proud that many of them come from the Portland Reviance® Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center.  Our Portland patients help their recovery along by avoiding smoking and sun exposure after the procedure.  At the Portland Reviance® Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center, we are excited to help you stop saying “I hate my nose,” and add you to the thrilled and relieved patients who say “I can’t believe I waited so long to do something about it!”