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7 Tips for Caring for Your Skin After a Facelift Procedure

You might be considering taking the plunge to renew your youthful appearance through a cosmetic facelift, and with approximately one quarter of a million people in the United States having facelifts each year, you are not alone!

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, performed by the team of professionals at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, can improve many of the visible signs of aging caused by the effects of gravity, stress, and sun exposure.

While the procedure removes excess skin and fat, tightens underlying muscles, and re-drapes the skin of your face and neck, keep in mind that plastic surgeons are doctors, not magicians. There are specific follow-up actions you will need to follow in caring for your skin after your facelift.

Proper skin care helps not only to expedite the healing process but will also help you maintain your results as long as possible. You will have received written instructions from your plastic surgeon for your post-operative care and activity. In addition to these, here are seven additional tips for you to follow with your post-facelift skincare.

1.     Cleanse and Moisturize

Your skin most likely will feel tender with a moderate amount of pain and tenderness around the incisions, but that doesn’t mean you should hold back on washing your face. Bacteria easily builds up, causing infections if your skin is not cleansed properly. Gently wash your incisions with soap and water three times a day using a soft cloth and a mild antibacterial cleanser. Using a moisturizer afterward will help reduce scars and keep your skin in the best possible condition.

2.     Minimize Swelling and Bleeding

Your face goes through a substantial amount of trauma during a facelift, which means that the swelling and bruising that follows tends to get worse before the healing begins.

Keeping your head elevated is essential. You can do this by placing multiple pillows to prop you up on your bed during rest and sleep. Supplements such as arnica and bromelain can minimize bruising, and these can be taken with your doctor’s approval. On the other hand, drugs such as aspirin and herbs such as garlic, ginseng, and ginkgo can cause bleeding and should be avoided.

3.     Wearing Makeup

While it is normal to have some swelling and feel tempted to cover this with makeup, it’s best that you don’t rush to grab your makeup bag right away. Instead, give your facelift recovery at least a week before putting on makeup. And when you do, remember to wash it all off each night.

4.     Avoid Direct Sun

Protecting your skin from the sun’s rays is just as important after your facelift as it was before your procedure. Exposing your incisions to the sun during your healing period can cause them to become darker and prolong your recovery.

While it’s essential to soak up vitamin D, anything in excess is dangerous. Apply a sunblock daily rated at a minimum SPF 30, and wearing your favorite hat and sunglasses is a great way to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

5.     Stay Hydrated and Nourished

Staying hydrated is a vital part of your overall skin health, but it can also help you feel better and heal faster. While water is the best hydration option, fluids containing vitamins and minerals low in sugar are also beneficial. Aim for 6-8 glasses of water a day to help remove toxins from the body and keep skin elastic.

The first few days after your procedure also require a high protein diet to keep you nourished. Try not to skip meals, and seek out wholesome and protein-rich meals to provide your body with the essential nutrients needed to heal faster.

6.     Avoid Scarring

Avoid disturbing any peeling skin or pick any scabs as this could cause an infection and scarring. Use cocoa butter, vitamin E, or scar gel six weeks after your surgery. Gently massaging these into your scars will promote softness.

7.     Minimize Activity

Try not to strain yourself during your facelift recovery time, and instead of rushing into your regular exercise routine, wait at least 14 days after your surgery before engaging in any strenuous activity.

When you restart exercising again, be careful not to overexert yourself. Start gradually, increasing your activity levels with each workout.

Need More Help Caring for Your Skin in Fredericksburg, Virginia?

Should you need more advice in caring for your skin after your facelift, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg either online or call by calling us at 540-371-7730. Our board certified experts are well prepared to give you the best experience before, during, and after your procedure.

Skin Care Products You Should Be Using This Summer!

Summer calls for more time outside and often spent in the sun. With the days being longer and warmer, the weather can lead to some unintended beauty issues, which is why we are bringing you this skin care update!

The team of professionals at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg is always happy to share their advice on selecting the ideal skin care products and treatments to bring out the healthy glow of your natural skin.

Skin Care Products To Avoid This Summer

Before considering the best summer-friendly routine, products, and treatments for your skin, let’s first look at the kind of products to avoid once the heat, sun, and humidity kick in, especially if you’re still using products left over from last winter.

Facial Oils

In warmer weather, it may be a good idea to remove all oils and serums from your daily skin care routine. After all, higher temperatures and increased humidity naturally cause your face to produce more oil.

AHA and Retinoids

While alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) facial treatments and retinoids keep your skin clear and glowing, these products can be especially irritating during the summer months. Consider only using them nightly or every other night if your skin is particularly sensitive.

Exfoliating Facial Scrubs

New cell turnover starts to speed up with higher daily temperatures, making your skin more sensitive to scrubs.

Skin Care Products To Be Using This Summer

Your skin health is essential to your overall health and glowing self-confidence, especially in today’s online world. Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg proudly offers a variety of state-of-the-art skin care products, including our prescription Obagi® Skin Health Restoration System.

Working at the cellular level, the popular Obagi brand offers powerful formulas that focus on restoring the skin and promoting overall skin health throughout your day. Obagi products are designed to target a range of conditions, including acne, discoloration, dry and aging skin, delivering a combination of powerful ingredients that support every skin tone and type.

Obagi Nu-Derm System

Prescribed to treat sun-damaged, pigmented, and aging skin, this product effectively treats moderate to severe sun damage when administered over 18 weeks.

The Obagi Nu-Derm System penetrates the skin to work at the cellular level with these and more results:

  • Repairs damage to all layers of the skin
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Improves skin texture and elasticity
  • Corrects age spots and uneven pigmentation

CLENZiderm MD

With its unique liquefied SoluZyl technology, this medication can penetrate deeply and quickly into your pores for rapid acne-clearing results.

Chemical Peels and More!

For more information about chemical peels, body treatments, and other exciting services, visit our Skin Care page.

Need More Help With Your Summer Skin Care Products in Fredericksburg, Virginia?

Your skin is the first and most significant barrier protecting you and your body from the harsh elements during the summer. Now is the time to take care of it!

Should you need more advice with selecting the best skin care products this summer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg either online or by calling us at 540-371-7730.

5 Areas of the Face That Can Be Improved with Fillers


When you look in the mirror, the signs of aging you see on your face can be distressing. Beginning as early as your 30s or even late 20s, fine lines around the mouth and nose, dark circles under the eyes, and drooping upper eyelids, little by little, have started appearing.

Many contributing factors can be causing these irritating symptoms: smoking, stress, lack of sleep, excessive sun exposure, and genetics are all to blame for the early signs of aging.

Fortunately, the board-certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg in Virginia have several non-surgical options in the form of injectable dermal fillers that can rejuvenate your face and help turn back the clock on aging.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Also known as injectable fillers, dermal fillers are a valuable tool in restoring fullness and volume to your face, ultimately reducing the appearance of age-related lines, wrinkles, and other flaws. Many patients experience facial fat and volume loss as a natural consequence of the aging process.

Fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin with a blunt tip cannula. Many of the elements injected, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, occur naturally in the skin, making them well-received by most patients. Even better, injections require no recovery time and provide immediate results!

We offer a comprehensive selection of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, specifically formulated for specific skin areas, to patients in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. These include:

  • Juvéderm® Voluma
  • Juvéderm® Ultra
  • Juvéderm® Ultra Plus
  • Restylane®
  • Restylane® Lyft
  • Restylane® Silk

Dermal Fillers, A Noninvasive Alternative

Dermal fillers are highly effective and easily customized for each patient, addressing specific problem areas. For long-lasting results, patients can maintain their results by following a customized treatment plan with routine scheduled treatments.

Curious about how your face could benefit from filler injections? Check out this list of five common areas where dermal fillers can be used!

1. Cheeks and Temples: Added Contour, Curve, and Lift

The rich formula of Juvéderm® Voluma can create more structured-looking cheekbones and add plumpness to your temples, adding a more youthful look to your mid-face.

2. Smile Lines: Smoothed Nasolabial Folds

Filler applied to the mid-face fills in the smile lines and wrinkles known as nasolabial folds, providing a perfect balance of flexibility and smoothness. It’s an ideal treatment for an area that constantly moves as you talk and smile.

3. Lips: Volumized, Smoothed Vertical lines, Improved Symmetry

Not only can we use dermal fillers to achieve natural-looking volume in our lips, but they can also smooth vertical lip lines and wrinkles that form around the lips.

4. Chin: Balanced Proportions, Added Definition

By adding definition to the chin, fillers can create an improved, balanced, and better-defined profile. Many patients are surprised at how much more youthful they look with artfully placed filler injections creating a slimmer chin, together with filled-in lines and wrinkles.

5. Jawline and Neck: Smoothed, Confident, Youthful

The highly cohesive Juvéderm® Voluma formula can be applied along the bony jawline area, strengthening the natural contours, smoothing horizontal wrinkles and lines in the neck.

Take the Next Step, Refresh Your Appearance!

Are you tired of fine lines and wrinkles on your face? Then dermal fillers or other non-invasive facial rejuvenation may be your best move towards refreshing your appearance.

Since no surgery is involved, the recovery time associated with injectable fillers is virtually nonexistent. Patients can quickly complete a filler treatment and then continue with their daily routine, even returning to work the same day.

For more information, schedule a consultation at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, conveniently located near downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Call us today at (540) 371-7730 to start your path towards a more youthful appearance!

Popular Treatments In Early Spring


This is the time of year that you want to fall in love with yourself again. It’s the best time to finally get started on those beauty treatments you’ve had on your wish list for way too long. For many reasons, this is the best time of year to think about cosmetic treatments that can help you look your best all year round.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are the perfect choice if you’re looking for a non-surgical way to restore or improve your youthful look. These fillers can be injected to restore lost facial volume under the eyes, in the temples, and cheeks and offer some amazing benefits:

  • Immediately Visible Results
  • No Recovery or Downtime
  • Boost in Self-Confidence
  • Long-Lasting Results
  • Minimal Risk

You could even consider a non-surgical liquid facelift to rejuvenate the overall appearance of your face, providing a boost that everyone will notice. The best part is that the results are transformative but natural – no one will suspect you’ve had “work” done.

Injectables

The passage of time can leave your face with an aged and tired appearance. However, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC, made from hyaluronic acid, is an excellent treatment to fill in lines and wrinkles, provide additional volume to your face, and rejuvenate your look. It is a gel that gently lifts the skin on your face and restores lost volume, resulting in a smoother, more natural and youthful look.

Chemical Peels

Many skin conditions like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and dull aging skin may be treated with a Chemical Peel. The process loosens and removes dead skin cells and allows healthier skin to grow back and be visible on the surface. Chemical peels can be performed alone or in combination with other cosmetic procedures and applied at different depths, from light to deep. Light peels are perfect for exfoliating and unclogging pores and for increasing new skin production. Deeper peels take longer to recover from, but they can decrease discoloration and give you a smoother skin texture. Either way, you can expect a restored glow.

At Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, we offer an Obagi Radiance Peel and various Vi Peels, with each treatment being customized to your unique requirements.

Fraxel Laser

Recognized as one of the most popular skin resurfacing tools, Fraxel Laser can penetrate the thickest layer of the skin known as the dermis. It works without burning or damaging the skin. This medical laser can selectively dissolve aged and damaged cells affected by hyperpigmentation, sun damage, wrinkles, or acne scarring by applying gentle heat.

Spar Treatment

As a special treat, you could visit our Medical Spa in Northern Virginia, which offers various services. Here is a sample of the treatments we have to offer:

  • Chemical Peels

Spoil Yourself for a Beautiful Look All Year Long

Your next step in planning to look your best is to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg in Virginia. The best way to recapture your youthful look is through an individualized, custom-tailored treatment plan. Call us today at (540) 371-7730.

Top Skin Treatments to Counter Damaging Summer Sun

When you’re soaking up the sun in one of Fredericksburg’s beautiful parks, sun damage is the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, even when you’re not thinking about it, the damage is occurring. The sun’s rays can take a toll on the skin, contributing to premature aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Fortunately, there are several minimally invasive cosmetic procedures available to counter this sun damage and revitalize our skin after too much fun in the sun.

Here, the elite team of surgeons at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg describes the ideal skin treatments to bring out the healthy shine of your natural skin. 

How Is the Skin Damaged by the Sun?

As the sun shines it emits ultraviolet (UV) energy. When our skin is exposed for prolonged periods to UV energy, it slowly begins to damage our skin cells. What follows are age spots, lines, discoloration, and sunburnt skin.

Proper precautions must be taken when spending time in Fredericksburg’s sun – precautions like applying sunscreen every ninety minutes, trying to avoid the sun when it is highest in the sky (between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.) and wearing a broad-brimmed hat.

Even with careful sun habits, inevitably, many of us will get too much sun at some point during summer. If you have sun damage, we can help you treat it. Come in for a personalized consultation or try one of the following treatments.

Chemical Peels

The accumulation of dead skin cells on the out layer of our skin results in a rough, haggard overall appearance.

Chemical peels are an ideal treatment for more general symptoms of sun-damaged skin, such as dull and uneven skin tone. The peel improves the skin by removing the entire outer layer of dead skin cells, which reveals the healthier, new skin underneath.

What peel should you choose? Chemical peels come in varying strengths. Stronger peels remove more skin and work at deeper depths. A light, superficial peel works on the outermost layers of the skin. How much damage you have and your lifestyle will determine your peel options. Talk with one of our plastic surgeons if you need a recommendation. 

Superficial peels are ideal for revamping moderately sun-damaged skin, whereas skin that is beginning to wrinkle or that has deeper hyperpigmentation will respond better to a deeper VI peel or Obagi Blue peel.

Laser Skin Treatments

In some cases, the sun will cause areas of the skin to develop discoloration, such as age spots and freckles. These unwanted spots can be treated with laser therapy.

Often used to combat the aging process, laser skin treatment has also long been used to mend sun-damaged skin.

At the Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, an effective laser technology called Fraxel laser is used to alleviate numerous skin problems. 

Targeted light energy is focused on the desired location to remove the damaged skin cells in each treated area. If you have age spots, ask us about Fraxel. 

Skincare Products

A range of products are available to treat sun-damaged skin, but one that stands out from the rest is the Obagi Nu-Derm system. Explicitly designed for moderately to severely sun-damaged skin, this treatment has proven to be the best available prescription-based method to treat weathered skin.

Acting on a cellular level, the Obagi Nu-Derm system removes dead skin cells, repairs skin damage, encourages collagen production, new skin cell generation, and protects the new skin. 

Over several weeks, this system impressively counteracts sun damage done to your skin during the summer.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Your skin is the first and most significant barrier that protects you and your body from the harsh elements – you must care for it!

To learn more about the highly effective Obagi Nu-Derm skin care system, or any of the other treatments recommended by the surgeons of Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, call our plastic surgery office at 540-371-7730 or fill out our online form to arrange a consultation.

The Best Dermal Fillers & Injectables for Darker Skin

Facial rejuvenation is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. Traditionally, middle-aged females were the biggest buyers of facial treatments. Anymore, however, dermatologists and plastic surgeons are getting more bookings from patients with darker skin, too.      

Last year, over 10 million Americans used noninvasive fillers or injectables to eliminate facial lines and wrinkling. Twenty percent of these patients had darker skin. 

With this in mind, as you consider a facial rejuvenation in Fredericksburg, you can better understand how the procedure will benefit you according to your skin type. 

How Does Skin Color Affect Aging?

Skin aging depends on two primary factors. The first, intrinsic aging, equally affects all skin types. Intrinsic, or biological skin aging, is influenced by gravity and manifests as a loss of skin volume and elasticity over time. Biological aging becomes particularly noticeable in the mid-lower facial regions, around the cheeks, nose, and mouth.   

The second aspect of skin aging is photodamage; damage caused by sunlight. The susceptibility of our skin to photodamage is chiefly a result of melanin concentration.

By absorbing UV energy, melanin diverts radiation away from skin cells and reduces the adverse effects that sunlight has on the skin. As such, the higher melanin concentrations in those with darker skin protects them from sun radiation. Accordingly, these lucky men and women have lower incidences of skin cancer and skin damage.

This interaction between sun, time, and skin type leads to people experiencing skin aging differently. Facial rejuvenation procedures should be closely correlated with skin color and condition.     

How Does Aging of the Skin Differ Between Skin Shades?

Lighter-skinned individuals tend to develop signs of aging earlier than those with darker skin. Lighter skin is more susceptible to photodamage. As such, fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss due to sun exposure occur higher on the face, earlier in life.

With darker skin, signs of aging occur later on and are characterized more by an overall loss of facial volume. The best options for skin of color are often volumizing procedures. That means fillers.  

Areas such as the cheeks, around the mouth (marionette lines) and the nose are all areas that respond well to filling using products such as Juvéderm® and Restylane®. These products, once injected under the skin, add subsurface volume and fill out folds, sunken cheeks, and hollow lips.

An area of caution for skin of color, however, is its susceptibility to scarring. The melanin that protects darker skin from the sun also means that the skin is more prone to discoloration from wounds. At Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, however, we virtually eliminate this risk by using a DermaSculpt Microcannula injection technique.

This flexible microcannula allows our expert doctors to fill a wider area using a single, almost pain-free injection. It creates close to zero bruising and as such is an ideal technique for administering Juvéderm® or Restylane® to an area that needs more volume.

Our team at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg have all the tools and expertise to gauge select the appropriate skin treatments for a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Skin type, age, and expectations all influence the suitability of any technique for you. Reach out to our board-certified team for a consultation via a phone call at 540-371-7730 or by filling in our online form. 

We look forward to meeting you!

Skin Care Tips for Gorgeous Winter Skin

Have you ever noticed that as the air gets colder your skin gets drier? Winter’s chilly air might be a welcome break from the heat of summer, but for your skin it is a time of serious adjustment. Cold air is less humid than warm air and when you fire up the heat inside, the problem gets even worse. To keep your skin looking radiant through the holiday season and until spring, try these simple skin care tips. This year make sure the only flakes in your life are snowflakes, not dry, flaky facial skin.

Switch Up Your Products

The transition between summer and winter is the perfect time to reevaluate your skin care products. Don’t just wander aimlessly down the beauty aisle at your local store; come in to Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg and let us help you find the right products for your skin. If you’ve been struggling with dry skin, battling acne that won’t go away, wanting to fade brown spots, or combating fine lines and wrinkles, we can recommend products that will target your problem areas.

Many of our patients love using the Obagi Medical line of skin care products, a unique facial care system that focuses on building a strong foundation for a lifetime of radiant, beautiful skin. Unlike store products, each product in the Obagi line works in synergy with the others for more dramatic results. With the Obagi line you’ll know that your skin care products are working together, not counteracting each other. You won’t find Obagi on the shelves of your local store, but we do carry it here and are certain that you’ll love it just as much as we do if you give it a try.

Moisturize More

One key for combating the dryness of winter is to step up your moisturizing routine. If you’ve only been the occasional moisturizer, make sure you do it every day, preferably after each cleanse. Moisturizing won’t just keep your skin soft; if you choose a moisturizer with an SPF you’ll also be protecting your skin from the sun’s rays and reducing your skin cancer risk. (The Obagi line includes sun protection.)

Exfoliate Less

Exfoliating to strip away dead skin cells is great skin care advice in the warmer months, but in the winter you’ll want to exfoliate less. Exfoliating can dry skin and during the winter you want as much moisture as you can get.

Skip the Hot Showers

A hot shower might warm you up on a chilly morning, but it will also dry your skin. Opt for a warm shower and a cup of hot cocoa instead.

Put the Twinkle Back in Your Eyes

If you want to reward yourself with a real holiday treat, give your eyes a boost this winter. The Elastiderm eye products from Obagi are some of our most popular sellers. They can noticeably tighten the skin around the eyes for a more youthful look. If your eyes have lost their twinkle and found a few wrinkles instead, give yourself the gift of Elastiderm this holiday season.

Winter might be dry skin season, but with a few changes to your skin care routine you can feel moisturized all winter long. Come see us for some personalized skin care advice or to give the highly recommended Obagi line of products a try.