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June 26, 2006
By Kevin Cullen
Summer is here, and with summer comes weddings, parties and lots of class reunions.
More people want to make their faces look their best. Dr. Alexander Gorup says that many are turning to cosmetic surgery.
He is the only board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Greater Lafayette, and one of only 14 in Indiana.
A typical patient is Ann Pelham, of Lafayette, a retired teacher. She disliked the furrows between her eyes; they made her look pensive when she wasn't.
"About a year ago, I looked at myself and thought that maybe I had frowned at one too many kids," she says with a laugh.
She went to Gorup for Botox injections, which relaxed the offending muscles.
"I have not had one person say, 'Oh, wow! What did you do?' " Pelham says. "I just know those furrows aren't there, and I just feel better. I wanted not to see them. I'm pretty happy at this stage of my life, and I wanted to look the way I felt."
Here are Gorup's responses to some common questions:
Question: What factors contribute to premature aging and why is the face so vulnerable?
A:The typical signs of premature aging are wrinkling, loose or inelastic skin and poor complexion. The major contributors include sun exposure, smoking, poor diet and genetics. The face, in particular, is also affected dramatically by facial expressions, which can cause wrinkles, and by gravity due to the anatomy of the face.
Q: What steps can people take to avoid premature aging and wrinkling?
A: Avoid the sun or at least use a sunblock with SPF 30 or greater. Don't smoke. Eat a balanced diet (antioxidants in your diet help prevent aging). Maintain an at-home skin care routine specifically designed for your face type. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Use a morning moisturizer with SPF 15 and alpha-and-beta-hydroxy acids to provide protection from the sun and allow proper exfoliation and rejuvenation to the surface of your skin. Use a more intense moisturizer at night. In cases where wrinkles have developed, Botox can help eliminate the wrinkles and prevent further deepening.
Q: When I think of facial plastic surgery, I think of scalpels, facelifts and lots of money. Has that changed?
A: In the last 15 years a trend toward more non-invasive treatments has emerged. These include the use of facial fillers (Restylane), Botox, anti-wrinkle creams, specialized lasers and chemical peels. Of course, some patients are not candidates for minimally invasive treatments and would benefit from new, advanced surgical techniques that have developed recently. Specialized financing is available for all cosmetic procedures.
Q: How long would a typical Botox or Restylane treatment last?
A: Typically a Botox treatment can last up to four months, while a Restylane treatment tends to last up to one year.
Q: Is either treatment dangerous?
A: Both products have an excellent long-term safety profile. Botox has been used for nearly 20 years for cosmetic purposes. Restylane was used worldwide, long before its FDA approval in the United States. Unlike many other facial fillers, Restylane does not require allergy testing and is not derived from animal tissue. Patients should only seek treatment by specially trained physicians with experience. Choose a doctor from the Botox Cosmetic Physicians' Network and one who regularly administers Restylane.
Q: If it's June 26, and my big class reunion is Aug. 15, is it too late to do anything?
A: In the case of Restylane, treatments lead to immediate correction. Botox usually requires three days to achieve the desired results.
Q: Are frequent follow-up procedures needed to maintain a certain look?
A: Most Botox patients consider treatment every three to four months. Restylane patients prefer to wait anywhere from six months to one year for follow-up treatments. Typically with regular treatments, the duration of desirable results tends to increase, allowing patients to seek treatment less often.
Q: What kind of research should someone do before he does anything?
A: Check out www.aafprs.org for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and click on the Virtual Exam Room for information about the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures.
