Blepharoplasty Bryn Mawr, PA

Under-eye puffiness or “bags” can add years to your appearance and make you look chronically tired and unwell—even if you’re in the prime of your life! The tissue around the eyes is more delicate than most other areas of the body. This is why we often notice aesthetic concerns here first.

Orbital fat (the small fat deposits beneath the eyes) tends to droop outward due to factors such as ethnicity, genetics, weight loss, illness, skin thinning, and reduced collagen and elastin production with age. Fortunately, we have procedures and treatments available to minimize or eliminate under-eye bags at our Bryn Mawr office.

Injectables for immediate eyelid rejuvenation

Surgery is not always necessary to address eye bag appearance issues. We often suggest patients consider first trying dermal fillers to refresh their under-eyes. Fillers such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, and the RHA® Collection can achieve nearly immediate lower eyelid rejuvenation with no recovery time required.

Eye rejuvenation with dermal fillers consists of injecting precise amounts of filler into the uppermost section of the cheek to smooth the transition between the cheek and lower eyelid. For the right patient, the added volume in this area will cause the appearance of bags to largely disappear and thus achieve a more youthful eye appearance. Treatment takes less than 30 minutes, and results can last up to 2 years; touch-up treatments can extend these results even longer.

Dermal filler treatment in the eye area can temporarily disguise weak tissue and lax skin, but, unlike eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), fillers cannot address excess skin or reposition muscles and tissues. That said, fillers allow patients to preview what they may look like if they decide to have surgery to eliminate under-eye bags.

Blepharoplasty for long-lasting eyelid rejuvenation results

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that offers longer-lasting eyelid rejuvenation for the upper and lower eyelids. An eyelid lift can revitalize your facial appearance by removing excess tissue and fat deposits and repositioning the remaining tissues to achieve a tighter, smoother eye appearance. A lower eyelid lid lift typically takes less than an hour to complete, and most patients are able to return to work within 10 days.

Patients seeking a lower eyelid lift often benefit from an upper eyelid lift to achieve comprehensive eye rejuvenation. In some cases, a brow lift can help achieve complete upper face rejuvenation, as a heavy brow contributes to drooping eyelids.

Although age will continue to affect the skin over time, the manual repositioning and trimming of fat and dermal tissue around the eyes will be long-lasting, and most patients enjoy their eyelid lift results for many years.

Medical spa treatments to support younger-looking skin

In addition to these two primary under-eye bag treatments, we also offer med spa treatments that support optimal collagen remodeling and provide younger-looking skin, including:

Schedule your Philadelphia eyelid rejuvenation consultation today

Philadelphia board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brannon Claytor and Physician Assistant Julie Holesh perform all injectable treatments here at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. We offer a full range of premium injectables to meet your aesthetic goals, including Botox®, Xeomin®, DAXXIFY™, Dysport®, GALTOX®, Kybella®, Bellafill®, and Sculptra®.

Dr. Claytor has over 20 years of experience offering cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and proudly serves patients from Philadelphia, Main Line, and surrounding areas. A member of The Aesthetic Society’s Board of Trustees, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Claytor continuously advances his surgical techniques and teaches his methods to colleagues at national meetings. In addition to his surgical work, Dr. Claytor is the Chief of Plastic Surgery for Main Line Health Systems, and is a Clinical Associate Professor at Lankenau Institute of Medical Research.

To learn if you are a good candidate for non-surgical facial rejuvenation or eyelid surgery, call (610) 527-4833 or schedule a consultation online today.

Weddings have a way of making us want to look as good as we feel. On the happy day, whether you are in the spotlight or in the front row, you want your face to reveal the happiness and energy you feel on the inside. Often, wedding planning takes up so much time that those in or close to the wedding party (Hello, Moms and Dads!) believe they’ve missed their chance to correct those stubborn cosmetic flaws before the big day. This isn’t so. Here, we want to point out how easy it can be to feel like a star at that Summertime wedding.

Refreshing the Eyes

The eyes are one of the first places on the face to start looking old and tired. Lines and creases around the eyes tend to be more noticeable in pictures, which is one reason why so many brides get Botox treatment before their special moment. Lines are only one problem that may need to be addressed, though. To refresh the eyes, it may be necessary to correct:

Our team has the skill to address each of these problems within a short time. You may be surprised to know that it’s possible to have eyelid rejuvenation surgery, blepharoplasty, just a few weeks before a Summertime wedding. The downtime in which bruising and swelling gradually subside is typically 10 to 14 days. If surgery sounds like too big a leap, most of the issues that affect the eyes can be addressed with injectables like Botox and dermal fillers. Much less downtime, still great results.

Fitting into That Dress (or Suit)

Summertime weddings are an invitation to put on a little something special that you might not wear on normal occasions. A tummy pooch, spare tire, or jiggly thighs can interfere with feeling as good as you’d like. Here again, you may be surprised at what is possible with only a few weeks left before the special event. Excess fat can be expertly removed in our Bryn Mawr office utilizing the SmartLipo technique. This minimally-invasive procedure does not require general anesthesia, only a local. Because SmartLipo melts fat cells, extraction is simplified and downtime is limited to one to two weeks. And when we say downtime, we mean that there will be slight swelling and bruising.

The countdown to wedding day may have begun, but you’ve got time to address your cosmetic concerns. Call 610.527.4833 to explore the numerous ways in which we can help.

There are definitely some perks to having information at our fingertips 24/7. At the same time, the sheer vastness of the internet means we can’t always be sure if what we’re reading is complete truth. Liposuction is a common procedure and, as such, has had a fair amount of misinformation distributed about it. In our Bryn Mawr office, liposuction continues to be one of the leading procedures. Seeing that we perform this fat-reducing treatment so often, we think we are a good resource to clear up any confusion. We’ll do that here.

  • Liposuction is a fat-reducing treatment but it will not help you lose weight. The objective of this procedure is to refine the contours of one or more areas of the body. For example, liposuction can decrease the circumference of the thighs. The amount of fat removed, though, will not result in weight loss.
  • Fat can return after liposuction. Fat-reduction treatment does remove a number of fat cells for good. However, weight gain occurs when fat cells expand in size, not when they grow in number. The results of liposuction can last indefinitely, but it does take work. Making healthy food choices and prioritizing exercise that you enjoy can support your best body after liposuction.
  • Liposuction is not a painful procedure. In many cases, liposuction can be performed using a local anesthetic and you feel nothing but a bit of pressure. General anesthesia is typically only used when liposuction is being performed on multiple larger areas or is combined with another procedure like a drainless tummy tuck or mommy makeover. After the anesthetic wears off, many patients can manage comfort with over-the-counter medication. Prescription medication can be taken as directed as needed. Within a few days, you can expect to be back to most of your normal routine.
  • Nonsurgical body contouring is better and safer than liposuction. Liposuction is a surgical procedure and therefore it does carry inherent risk. It is important to undergo this procedure only from a board-certified, highly qualified surgeon. As for nonsurgical treatments, they do work. We offer a few in our office. However, it is necessary to undergo multiple sessions to get optimal results and, even then, they may not match what could be achieved with liposuction.

Undergoing liposuction is a personal choice that we can help you make. We can do so by providing you with clear information regarding the procedure, what it can achieve, and what you can expect. To learn more, schedule a consultation in our Bryn Mawr office.

Think the man in your life isn’t interested in looking his best? Think again. According to data from the American Society for Plastic Surgery, an increasing number of men are seeking cosmetic treatments. Today, surgical and nonsurgical procedures alike are popular among women and men, and we can’t think of anything better for Father’s Day than to suggest a few treatments for men that Dad may love.

At Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, we offer services that address a wide variety of cosmetic concerns. Here, we can help Dad manage:

His Dad Bod

Busy Dads may sweat it out on the playground with the kiddos rather than in a gym, and this may leave a bit to be desired in the area of physical fitness. If love handles have gone soft around the edges, Dad may love the help that comes from non-surgical modalities. Liposuction, as well, has become much more streamlined and less invasive than ever before. Liposuction is a popular fat-reducing procedure that is commonly sought by men interested in either a flatter midsection or a more sculpted jawline. That’s right, this technique can permanently eliminate a double chin!

That Aging Face

An aging face can affect a man in similar ways that the signs of aging affect women’s faces. It isn’t that the appearance of lines and wrinkles makes the face appear older; that alone we may be able to tolerate. What happens when facial structure changes over time is that the eyes begin to look tired or angry. Men often develop deep creases on their forehead and, truth be told, those worry lines don’t do much to support a professional, competitive image. Facial laxity, loss of volume, and undereye bags are all problems that men face. Fortunately, they are all also problems that can be dealt with easily and, often, without surgery.

After a thorough consultation and skin assessment, our team can make the best recommendations to bring out the best in Dad’s skin. From Botox to dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing to chemical peels, we’ve got the treatment modalities that get fast and lasting results.

Learn more about the unique gifts available for the man you love. Call our Bryn Mawr office for more information.

Throughout our lifetime, we have many moments of joy. We tend to wear them on our face. Rarely does one feel prepared when the signs of aging begin to show up. In fact, it takes many people years to do anything about the cosmetic changes that concern them. Fortunately, there is very little (if any) social stigma left around the idea of plastic surgery. Men and women of all ages are now much more open about their interest in facial rejuvenation and how they are taking control of their aging process.

Facelift surgery continues to be a primary method of facial rejuvenation. The technique used for each patient is customized to provide meaningful results that last for years. While facelift surgery offers substantial benefits, the fact remains that the face will continue to age after treatment. Here, we offer a bit of insight gained through numerous studies regarding how to promote lasting results from facelift surgery.

First, the Cause; Then, the Solutions

In order to know what can help prolong a youthful appearance, we must first understand what causes the face to age in the first place. For the most part, studies indicate the immense value of collagen and elastin for healthy,  youthful skin. These two chemicals are produced abundantly during childhood and adolescence but not in adulthood. In fact, collagen production begins to decline in our twenties. Being the building block of resilient tissue, collagen is a must for anyone interested in postponing the onset of lines and wrinkles, sagging, thinning skin, and pigment issues.

In addition to helping us understand the role of collagen and elastin in the body, studies have also discovered some valuable ways to keep these chemicals going strong for many years. One way is to avoid unprotected sun exposure. UV light can be good for the body; it aids in the natural production of vitamin D. However, anything more than a few minutes of UV exposure will lead to collagen breakdown. The strands of collagen that hold the skin firmly fray when they become damaged by UV rays. If you want healthy skin and you want to be in the sunshine, wear sunscreen that filters both UVA and UVB light.

Additional strategies for maintaining skin after facial rejuvenation include taking vitamin C daily. Vitamin C is a significant contributor to collagen production as well as the prevention of oxidative stress in the body. Hydration, as well, is a must for the skin to maintain moisture that keeps it smooth and supple. Finally, experts encourage the avoidance of smoking. The chemicals in cigarettes prevent adequate oxygen delivery to tissues, which can sharply increase the rate of aging.

If you’re considering how you can correct the signs of aging that concern you, we can help. Contact our Bryn Mawr office to schedule your consultation to explore surgical and nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments.

Dr. Claytor also offers men’s facelifts.

Thread lifts have been making a comeback in the last few years. It’s easy to see why. This creative technique designed to refresh the appearance of the face doesn’t require surgery or anesthetic and there is virtually no downtime. These are the finer points of having very fine threads inserted beneath the skin. However many benefits there seem to be to the modern-day thread lift, it is important for people considering this treatment to know what to expect.

One of the primary draws of thread lifting is that this technique achieves natural-looking results. This is advantageous and also not exclusive to the thread lift. People interested in natural-looking facial rejuvenation may be able to achieve their desired outcome and then some with a well-planned mini facelift. Here, we point out why.

Thread Lifting vs. Facelift Surgery

Thread lift techniques were first developed in the 1990s. At that time, treatment involved the insertion of permanent barbed or knotted sutures beneath the skin. Conceptually, this sounded ideal; insert threads, press the skin up and out, and lock it into place on the knots or barbs. In reality, the technique had some shortcomings. Patients experienced skin dimpling, higher risk of infection, and other concerns. In light of these potential complications, the thread lift somewhat fell out of favor with doctors and patients.

The thread lifts that are performed today are much better than what was previously available. Surgical grade sutures are made of biodegradable filaments; they don’t stay in the body forever. Threads are also treated with tiny bidirectional cones rather than barbs. These improvements, combined with insertion techniques, have largely eliminated undesirable side effects. However, that doesn’t mean a thread lift is right for everyone.

The biodegradable filament used in thread lift treatment can gently lift superficial tissue. It can also encourage collagen production for a few months, which means the skin is likely to improve gradually over time before the effects of treatment begin to fade. The results of a thread lift last an average of 21 months. A surgical facelift, on the other hand, will manipulate the deeper plane of tissue that supports facial contours. Mini facelift treatment focuses on the lower face, where jowls and sagging skin make the face appear older. Treatment may be slightly more involved, but the results achieved in a mini lift can last between 2 and 6 years.

We offer facelifts for women and facelifts for men. Learn more about facelift treatment and other methods of facial rejuvenation in our Bryn Mawr office. Schedule your consultation today.

Labiaplasty is a type of vaginal rejuvenation that has become quite popular in the last few years. This surgical technique is conducted to modify the appearance of the inner or outer labia as needed to improve a woman’s comfort and confidence. While the results of labiaplasty may sound appealing, the idea of surgery may not. What our patients want to know most is what it’s like to recover from labiaplasty. Here, we offer a general timeline and what to expect as healing occurs.

Day 1 to 3

The first few days after labiaplasty may be mildly uncomfortable. Most patients obtain adequate pain relief from the medication prescribed by our office. Genital tissue is likely to be swollen and bruised during initial recovery. This may be more pronounced on one side. During this time, physical activity should be limited and patients should focus on rest.

Week 2

By the end of the first week of recovery, patients are typically much more comfortable; so much so that they no longer need prescription pain medication. At this time, it is common for swelling to still exist, though not to such an extent that physical activity must be limited. Patients are encouraged to resume normal activities that feel comfortable. In week 2, it is also possible to return to work. Itching may occur as tissue continues to heal. Cold compresses can be applied to relieve this side effect.

Weeks 3 – 4

The dissolvable stitches used to close incisions are typically gone by week 3 or 4. At this time, comfort is significantly improved and patients are able to resume most normal activities, even relatively strenuous exercise. However, tampon use and sexual intercourse might need to be postponed another few weeks.

Week 6

Ninety percent of the healing after labiaplasty occurs in the first 6 weeks after surgery. By this point, a patient can expect to be cleared for all normal activities, including sexual intercourse and tampon use. Though residual swelling will continue to subside for another few weeks, patients may see a glimpse of their final result from labiaplasty at this time.

Interested in learning more about labiaplasty? Contact our Bryn Mawr office at 610.527.4833 to schedule a consultation with our friendly team.

Laser Resurfacing or Facelift Surgery Bryn MawrAging changes the skin in three distinct ways. These include volume loss, textural irregularities, and laxity. Historically, facial aging has been corrected with facelift surgery. More recently, though, a number of non-surgical techniques have been developed to smooth, lift, and tighten the skin. In our Main Line plastic surgery practice, we offer patients several options for facial rejuvenation, including facelift surgery and laser skin resurfacing. Here, we discuss aspects of each to help you recognize which approach may be right for your needs.

When Laser Resurfacing is a Good Choice

Laser skin resurfacing has evolved over the years. It is rare for a person to undergo fully ablative CO2 resurfacing these days. Fractionated techniques, in which a single laser beam is broken up into tiny pinpoints of energy, are less intense and require a shorter recovery period. Fractional laser resurfacing creates tiny channels in the superficial layers of dermal tissue. This invites an infusion of collagen to occur over time, progressively improving texture, tone, and firmness.

Laser skin resurfacing may be performed to correct:

When Facelift Surgery is a Good Choice

A surgical facelift does involve anesthesia and incisions. However, these are not aspects that should exclude this technique as beneficial. To accommodate a surgical facelift, incisions are made near the hairline. A short incision may be made in front of each ear. During the procedure, small instruments are inserted through incisions to reposition deep muscle and fatty tissue. After structure is secured across the cheekbones, excess skin is trimmed and incisions are closed. A patient requires a week to two weeks of recovery for swelling and bruising to subside. After this time, light activities can be resumed.

The results of a surgical facelift are more dramatic than laser resurfacing because the surgical technique addresses the deep musculature of the face, resulting in changed structure. A facelift can:

  • Sharpen the jawline by lifting jowls
  • Restore volume to the cheeks
  • Reduce or eliminate deep creases around the nose and mouth

The best way to know your ideal approach to facial rejuvenation is to consult with a board-certified physician. During a consultation in our Bryn Mawr office, you can explore numerous options including and beyond laser resurfacing and facelift surgery. Call 610.527.4833 to schedule your visit.

Male Breast reduction Bryn Mawr, PA Men with breasts. This sounds like a bad B-budget horror film. For the man who lives every day with noticeably large breasts, life can feel like its own House of Horrors. Men who are troubled by enlarged breast tissue often resort to wearing overly baggy clothes or even bras made specifically for male breasts; bras that compress the chest to reduce the obviousness of female-like breasts. This is not a way to live. While certain strategies can reduce the physical appearance of male breasts, they do nothing to improve a man’s overall sense of self. What can help is appropriate gynecomastia treatment, which we are proud to offer in our Philadelphia area office.

Gynecomastia Recovery Timeline

Male breast reduction is a procedure that we tailor to the individual. Some men may achieve the desired outcome with liposuction alone, but it is important to consider the potential for recurrence if breast glands are left intact. Additionally, some men require more extensive gynecomastia surgery to tighten significantly loose skin. Recovery is a process that follows a general timeline of:

  • Follow-up the day after surgery to remove the initial surgical dressing. A compression garment is applied at this time. Extended incision surgery may require a longer-term bandage that is removed approximately 10 days after surgery.
  • Drain removal may be scheduled approximately 6 days after surgery if drains are placed.
  • Arm movements remain limited for two to three weeks; no overhead lifting.
  • Lower body workouts may slowly resume starting one to two weeks post-op.
  • Upper body workouts may resume sometime after 5 weeks post-op, depending on the extensiveness of incisions and tissue removal.

Side Effects after Gynecomastia Surgery

Male breast reduction is often performed under general anesthesia. Initial side effects after surgery may include nausea and grogginess related to sedation. These sensations usually resolve within 24 hours. After this time, oral pain medication is taken as directed to control comfort. The pain that is related to gynecomastia surgery is typically a general sensation of soreness in the chest area. Tightness may also be felt. These side effects may increase along with arm movements that resume gradually throughout recovery. Patients should expect swelling and bruising in the chest, but these side effects are all but hidden beneath the compression garment worn for the first several weeks post-op. The physical toll of surgery combined with prescription pain medications may also make the patient feel less energetic than usual. Rest is an important aspect of surgical recovery and should not be met with a “suck it up” attitude. Rest equals recovery.

Learn more about Gynecomastia Surgery

Male breasts do not have to be a part of your life. Learn more about the treatment options available at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery. Call 610.527.4833.

Facelift Bryn Mawr, PA At Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery, our primary objective in each situation is to understand a patient’s concerns and desired outcome from prospective treatment. The approach that is taken to rejuvenate the face or body (or both) always caters to the individual, which means we personalize techniques based on preferences, needs, and the condition of the tissue we are revising. By tailoring treatment, we are much more capable of achieving the best possible results from any given technique.

Often, facial rejuvenation is observed as a singular subject and the face as a solitary feature. This is far from the truth of it. There are multiple areas on the face that are affected by aging. Moreover, every area of the face may react differently to aging. For example, the lower face may become loose and marked by jowls and a double chin while the eyes remain bright and friendly. Facial rejuvenation also needs to consider the role that the neck plays in overall appearance. The neck and the face are two physical features that work together. For this reason, many patients who are interested in a facelift are also good candidates for a neck lift. Men’s facelifts are also available at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery.

The Benefits of Combined Treatment

The lower face and the neck often incur the brunt of aging. In general, the face and neck tissue suffer years of UV exposure, which results in sun damage both on and below the skin. With the natural decrease in collagen and elastin that occurs with time, these two features age alongside one another, one drooping downward and the other becoming crepe-paper thin.

A facelift repositions tissue from the cheeks down to the jawline through small incisions in the area of the ears. Through these small openings, tissue is carefully manipulated upward and outward. This sharpens the jawline and smooths away creases that have formed around the nose and mouth. The facelift may also somewhat reinstate the contours of the cheeks by narrowing the shape of the lower face.

A neck lift picks up where the facelift leaves off. During this aspect of a combo lift process, sagging neck tissue is repositioned through the same incisions made around the ear or, in some cases, a separate incision just under the chin. This technique can tighten up the contour of the upper neck and chin and smooth horizontal bands that occur with age.

Combining a facelift with a neck lift means that your refreshed face is framed by skin that looks equally youthful. Benefits beyond the beauty component include a reduced recovery time compared to two separate procedures and lower surgical fees.

We enjoy serving patients throughout the Philadelphia area. To learn more about facial rejuvenation, facelift and neck lift surgery, call 610.527.4833.