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COMPUTER IMAGING
As a special feature of your initial consultation with Dr. So, we offer a full Computer Imaging session with the state-of-the-art Mirror 2000 Imaging
Program. This is a valuable tool specifically designed to educate and guide you through the steps of your surgery. This offers you an opportunity to discuss your desires through illustration and improves
communication between you and the surgeon.
 Dr. So regularly performs the procedures listed below. Please contact our office to set
up a consultation with the doctor regarding any of these topics:
Botox Press Release
Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation
Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
Endoscopic Brow lift
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Breast Augmentation (Enhancement)
Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Tummy Re-Contouring
Rhinoplasty (Surgery of the Nose)
Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation
Botox injection is an important way of facial
wrinkle control and is now the most popular treatment done in the office setting. Use of botox has been around for fifteen years and
has proven to have minimal side effects. It is used mainly to slow down the wrinkling of facial skins particularly the upper third of the face, namely the forehead, area between
the brows and crows feet. Botox is a form of maintenance therapy and not a cure for wrinkles; however its periodic use can effectively slow down the aging process.
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Wrinkle Injections:
Collagen and Antologous (ones own) fat injections are the two most commonly used and effective ways of wrinkle treatments today. The simplicity of
the techniques in conjunction with minimal risks are the reasons why these are the most popular form of wrinkle treatments. Collagen will be ideal for treating fine wrinkles and
minor depression. Collagen can be used to fill acne and some types of scar on the face. Usually patients are given a skin test on the forearm to check for allergic
reactions before receiving collagen injection. Fat injection is good for deeper wrinkles and the fat is usually harvested from one's own body using the suction technique and
reinject it into the wrinkles or depressions. A percentage, but usually not all fat, will survive. Usually large volumes of materials are needed e.g. lip augmentation. Both are
maintenance therapies that require periodic treatments to maintain the optimal results.
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Facial Skin Care: The scientific daily maintenance treatment of one's skin is the
cornerstone of any facial rejuvenation. The combined use of microdermabrasion and ultrasonic topical-C facial will allow rapid healthy skin restoration. Once that is
accomplished, the daily skin care program implementing by the patient with our instruction will bring maximal healthiness to one's skin with proven success.
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Summary: The combine usage of Botox treatment and a good skin health
maintenance program will definitely slow down the aging process. The additional use of wrinkle injections e.g. collagen and fat will maximize facial rejuvenation without surgery
if one does not have any redundant skin problems.
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Laser Skin Resurfacing: Advances in CO2 laser technology allows treatment of
facial skin for wrinkle, pigmented spots improvement. It also brings histological improvement of the skin so the skin quality is improved externally. Laser skin treatment
is best done for the areas around the eyelids and lips. This is commonly done in conjunction with facelift and eyelid surgeries. Laser resurfacing does require ten to
fourteen days of acute post-surgical recovery and a six-month prolonged protection from the sun. During this time patient's skin will appear pinkish-red in color with can be
easily covered with make-up. Complication with pigmentation irregularity of the skin and scarring can occur. Deeper wrinkles may need second treatment if needed.
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Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
Facelift can be done with minimal scarring and a quick recovery today. Facelifts can reduce sagging skin on the face and neck, helping these areas to appear more
youthful. Your bony structure, skin texture, and quality all play a role in how much improvement can be made by the surgery and how long it will last. Dr. So performs a
facelift operation through incisions that are strategically placed around the ear and are designed to keep the resultant scars as minimal and inconspicuous as possible.
Internal soft tissue tightening is also performed to reshape the face. The loose skin itself is then re-draped and the excess removed. Most of your scars will be well hidden
around the ears. The scars usually are minimal in nature and well concealed even with a short hairstyle. After facelift surgery, you will experience minimal temporary skin
discoloration and some tightness or numbness in the face and neck. Healing is gradual, so expect to wait several months for optimal result, but the patient will look
normal one week after the surgery. Since your skin will remain somewhat sensitive for a few months, protection from the sun, including daily use of sun block, is essential. You
can wear cosmetics about one week after surgery and most patients look really good 7 to 10 days after surgery with minimal bruises.
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Endoscopic Brow lift
As aging progresses, skin wrinkling and loss of tone can occur on the forehead area as
it does in the eyelids and lower parts of the face. This may cause sagging of the eyebrows, resulting in a tired or sad look; this also aggravates the problem of excess
skin of the upper eyelids. It may also result in deepening of the horizontal expression lines and wrinkling of the forehead itself. There may be deep, vertical frown lines
between the eyebrows in the center of the forehead. The brow lift is designed to correct and improve these problems. Dr. So performs the endoscopic version of the forehead
lift, which requires several small incisions within the hairline instead of the coronal incision used for the conventional forehead lift. Using endoscopes, Dr. So weakens the
muscles that cause frown lines between the brows and elevate them. The Endoscopic Brow lift is commonly done in conjunction with other facial rejuvenating procedures,
particularly eyelid surgery. After surgery, there will be some temporary swelling and slight discoloration involving the eyelids and lower portions of the face as well. You will
be permitted to wash you hair twenty-four hours after surgery. Patients usually look quite normal one week after surgery.
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Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
The eyes are the focal point of the face and contribute substantially to your overall facial appearance. Bags beneath the eyes wrinkled drooping skin and sagging eyebrows all
contribute to a perpetually tired expression. Aesthetic eyelid surgery can "brighten" the face and restore a more youthful appearance by reducing the fat and extra skin that
causes these conditions. Blepharoplasty is often performed along with a facelift or with other facial rejuvenating procedures (e.g. laser resurfacing of the eyelid skin). Dr. So
may operate on the upper and lower eyelids as necessary, removing excess skin and muscle as well as eliminating or repositioning fat under the skin that creates bagginess
of the eyelids. Incisions are hidden within natural folds and beneath lash lines. The scarring is minimal and relatively invisible. Sometimes sagging eyebrows aggravate
the upper eyelid problem, and this may require correction with a brow lift using endoscopic techniques with minimal scarring. Because eyelid skin is thin, you should
expect some swelling and mild bruising after surgery. Your eyes may be temporarily sensitive to light and susceptible to excess tearing or dryness. You may want to wear
dark glasses for a couple of weeks to protect your eyes from wind and sun irritation and avoid eyestrain from prolonged readings or television viewing. You will be able to
resume wearing makeup and contact lenses shortly after surgery. Patients usually look after one week after the surgery.
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Breast Augmentation (Enhancement)
Augmentation mammaplasty, the second most popular cosmetic procedure, is typically
performed to enlarge small breast, underdeveloped breasts or breasts that have decreased in size after childbirth. It is accomplished by surgically inserting an implant
behind each breast. The incision is made under the breast. A pocket is created for the implant either behind the breast tissue or behind the muscle. Following surgery, you will
war a gauze dressing and supportive bra. Some swelling and discoloration will occur but will disappear shortly after surgery. Vigorous activities, especially arm movement,
will be restricted for six weeks following surgery. The most common known risks associated with breast implants is capsular contracture, a tightening of scar tissue
around the implant, which results in varying degrees of breast firmness and may cause pain or changes in the breast's appearance. Other known risks include: implant rupture
(deflation of a saline-filled implant) and temporary or permanent changes in nipple or breast sensation. Considering all available scientific research, it appears that breast
implants are neither associated with any increased risk of connective tissue disease nor with any increased risk of developing breast cancer. Dr. So will discuss with you
these and other possible risks that you should consider carefully.
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Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
A procedure introduced in the United States in 1982, and is the most popular cosmetic
procedure; liposuction can remove localized collections of fatty tissue in many areas of the body. By using a high vacuum device, the surgeon can suction fat from the legs,
buttocks, hips, abdomen, and upper neck. The popularity of liposuction is due to the effectiveness of the technique (in the hands of the qualified surgeon) and the fact that it
leaves tiny scars, often less that one-half inch in length. Liposuction is neither a substitute for proper diet and exercise nor a cure for obesity. To get the most from this
procedure, you should be of average weight with extra fat localized in specific areas. It is also important that you have healthy, elastic skin with the capacity to shrink evenly
after surgery. Since liposuction removes only fat, it cannot eliminate dimpling or correct skin laxity. The tumescent technique, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) may be
recommended by Dr. So, depending on your specific needs and Dr. So's preferred methods of treatment. If your skin has lost much of its elasticity, Dr. So may
recommend a skin tightening procedure (abdominoplasty, thigh lift, buttock lift, or arm lift). These procedures are effective but leave more extensive scars. To obtain optimal
results, you will wear compression garment up to several weeks to promote skin shrinkage and to minimize swelling and skin discoloration.
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Tummy Re-Contouring
The protruding shape of ones abdomen (tummy) is a frequent problem, particularly with
multiple pregnancies. The treatment can range from simple liposuction to a full tummy tuck operation or a combination of liposuction and a mini-tummy tuck. For patients with
good skin tone, no loose skin but just fatty fullness, liposuction alone will suffice. However patient that has significant skin redundancy and hanging apron effect then a
full tummy tuck will be required. Mini-tummy tuck with liposuction is reserved for patients with fatty excess and minimal skin redundancy/ loose skin. With the appropriate
treatments, patient can obtain a flattened, well contour abdomen after these procedures.
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Rhinoplasty (Surgery of the Nose)
Rhinoplasty can reshape your nose in a number of ways to improve its appearance and
proportion in relation to you other facial features. People most often elect surgery to reduce the size and shape of the bridge and tip of the nose. Dr. So may make one or
more adjustments as necessary. Reshaping is generally done through incisions inside the nose. There also may be a small external incision across the central bottom portion
of the nose between the nostrils. It is sometimes necessary to narrow the base of the nose or reduce the size of the nostrils. This entails removing small wedges of
skin/tissues at the base of the nostrils. The resulting scars usually fade very well and ultimately should be barely noticeable. The nose is reduced, or in some cases built up,
by adjusting its supporting structures - either by removing or adding cartilages. The skin and soft tissues then re-drape themselves over this new "scaffolding." The skin quality
does affect the final result. After surgery, some pain, swelling and bruising of the nose are to be expected, but they will subside gradually. You will wear a splint for
approximately a week and internal packings for a couple of days. Your daily routine will be severely restricted for only a day or two, but you should curtail all physical activities
such as bending, lifting or exercise for a few weeks. Reserve judgment on your rhinoplasty for several months until your nose has had an opportunity to fully heal and
settle. Often, the best compliment you can receive from your family and friends is that your nose does not appear very different. Remember - the intention of rhinoplasty is for
your "new nose" to blend in naturally with your face. Sometimes chin implants are recommended to improve facial profile in conjunction with nasal cosmetic surgery.
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