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Click
on the links below to see Dr. Wolf's answers to your procedure questions.
FACE
LIFT SURGERY FAQ
Am I
a good candidate for a facelift?
A man or women whose facial skin still has elasticity even though
it has begun to sag is a good candidate for a facelift (Rhytidectomy).
Typically, persons in their forties to sixties elect to have facelifts,
however successful facelifts are routinely performed on older and
younger persons as well, particularly younger people who have lost
a significant amount of weight. Good bone structure is also helpful.
Will
a facelift improve my skin?
A facelift will reduce sagging of skin, but will not improve the
texture of the skin itself. Spots that result from aging, acne and
slight lines resulting from smoking will return to their appearance
before the surgery.
How long
does a facelift last?
The effects of a facelift are long lasting to the extent that your
face will always look better than if no facelift had been performed
at all. However, many people elect to repeat their facelifts after
five to ten years.
Will
there be scarring?
Any scarring tends to fade over time, and is typically hidden in
the natural creases around your ears and on your face.
What
are the risks?
Complications from surgery are not common and can be minimized when
you closely follow the instructions of your surgeon, both before
and after the surgery. However, adverse effects that can occur include
infection, bleeding, reactions to anesthesia, blood clots, and (usually)
temporary injury to nerves.
Smokers may be
more likely to experience poor healing of skin.
How long
does the surgery take?
Typically a facelift requires several hours and may require longer
if more than one procedure is performed.
 How
is the surgery performed?
The procedure begins by performing liposuction of the neck that
is often times complimented by performing a platysma plication.
This is the muscle underlying the neck often seen as bands running
from the chin towards the chest. If these are part of the anatomic
problem, an incision is performed underneath the chin toward the
chest. Using a lighted retractor and laser dissection, the muscle
is freed and then sutured in the middle, providing excellent rejuvenation
of the neck region.
Then an S-Lift
or MACS Facelift addresses the skin and jowl laxity through an incision
in front of the ear. Liposuction is performed on the jowls and,
if necessary, the nasolabial folds The tumescent anesthetic technique
allows bloodless dissection of the facial region. Careful marking
is performed and a piece of skin is removed in front of the ear.
Permanent sutures are placed in the underlying tissue (Superficial
Musculoaponeurotic System or SMAS) to give deep support to the face.
The skin is then sutured underneath and on top to provide a nearly
invisible line in front of the ear. For certain patients a classic
facelift is performed.
How long
is recovery?
After surgery a special dressing is placed over the area and many
patients can return to work within a week. We use advanced surgical
techniques along with vitamin and herbal products to accelerate
healing and decrease the chance of bruising.
 What
type of anesthesia is used?
Most facelifts are performed using a local anesthesia along with
sedatives.
Where
will the facelift be performed?
You will be pleased to learn that hospitalization is not required.
Your surgery is performed in Dr. Wolf’s office-based facility.
How should
I prepare for a facelift?
Dr. Wolf will review your medical history and provide instructions
for you to follow both before and after your surgery.
What
will occur during my free initial consultation?
During your free facelift consultation you will meet with one of
Dr. Wolf’s specialists to answer your questions and describe
the procedure to you. If you prefer, for a small fee, you may schedule
you initial consultation with Dr. Wolf himself. You can discuss
improvements you would like to see in your appearance, along with
an examination and preparation of your medical history.
What
next step should I take?
See if a facelift is the right procedure for you.
Call us at 1-877-839-3223 with any question or to set an
appointment for a free consultation with one of Dr. Wolf’s
specialists. Or for a small fee you may schedule a screening with
Dr. Wolf. Before you make any commitment, let us explain our procedures
to you and what results you can expect. There is no obligation.
More
information about Facelifts: Costs
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 LIPOSUCTION
FAQ
(Lipoplasty/Suction Lipectomy)
What
is Liposuction?
One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, liposuction
sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat from areas of the body
such as the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, chin,
cheeks, neck and upper arms that have not responded to diet and
exercise.
Am I
a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
The ideal candidate for liposuction is a person in good health who
has pockets of fat that he or she has been unable to eliminate through
diet and exercise. This person desires sculpting of the body rather
than weight loss. The best candidate has skin that is still firm
and elastic. About half of those having liposuction are middle aged.
Is hospitalization
required?
No. This procedure is performed in Dr. Wolf’s office-based
treatment center. Local anesthesia is used. The procedure takes
one to three hours depending on the amount of fat being removed.
How is
the procedure performed?
Dr. Wolf performs Tumescent liposuction, a liposuction method using
local anesthesia. The patient is marked and Dr. Wolf expertly injects
the numbing solution thru the skin into the underlying fat. The
fat is removed with a specialized hollow tube (cannula). The patient
is immediately evaluated in the standing position to ensure even
fat removal has been achieved. No post-operative medications are
usually needed.
What
are the risks?
Risks are uncommon when the procedure is performed by a qualified
surgeon. However, risks include infection, delays in healing, fat
clots or blood clots, shock, fluid accumulation that must be drained,
perforation injury, and lidocaine toxicity.
What
can I expect after the surgery?
After surgery, compression garments and antibiotics may be needed
to facilitate the healing process. Patients are encouraged to walk
as soon as they are able. Many return to work within a few days,
although strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month.
When
will I notice results?
Results are visible immediately, though improvement may continue
as swelling subsides during the first three months. Scars are small
and inconspicuous. Other irregularities in appearance are possible,
such as asymmetric or "baggy" skin, numbness and pigmentation
changes.
How long
will the results last?
Since some fat cells are removed, weight gain will tend not to reoccur
in the treated areas. However, fat deposits may appear in other
areas if there is weight gain. Most people are very pleased with
the results of their liposuction, however the long term benefits
will be influenced by diet and exercise.
What
is the next step to take?
See if liposuction is the right procedure for you.
Call us at 1-877-839-3223 with any question or to set an
appointment for a free consultation with one of Dr. Wolf’s
specialists. Or for a small fee you may schedule a screening with
Dr. Wolf. Before you make any commitment, let us explain our procedures
to you and what results you can expect. There is no obligation.
More
information about Liposuction: Costs
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 VEIN
THERAPY FAQ
Spider
Veins (Cosmetic) FAQ
Varicose
Vein (Medical) FAQ
Spider Veins (Cosmetic) FAQ
What
are spider veins?
Spider veins are thin, unsightly surface veins generally located
on the outside of the thigh area. Spider veins may appear in other
locations. However, these are usually caused by medical varicose
veins which may not be visible because of their depth.
(Dr. Wolf will
recommend an ultrasound if you have spider veins that are located
in areas that are not typically known to be just cosmetic.)
How can
spider veins be treated?
Fortunately, spider veins can often be successfully treated with
very simple procedures.
Sclerotherapy:
Sclerotherapy has been used for decades in European
countries and is an increasingly popular therapy in the United
States. It can treat both varicose and spider veins.
A tiny needle
injects the veins with a medication that irritates the lining
of the vein. In response, the veins collapse and are absorbed.
Surface veins are no longer visible.
Sclerotherapy
relieves symptoms due to varicose and spider veins in most patients.
With this procedure, veins can be dealt with early to prevent
further complications. Several sclerotherapy sessions may be required
depending on the type and number of veins being treated.
Generally,
normal activities can be resumed after sclerotherapy. Medically
prescribed support hose may need to be worn for 24 hours to assist
in resolution of the veins.
The procedure,
performed in the doctor's office, usually causes only minimal
discomfort. "Bruising and pigmentation" changes may
occur after sclerotherapy. Bruising typically disappears within
1-2 weeks. Although pigmentation almost always fades, it can last
for several months. Scarring and other complication are rare.
Ultrasound:
Guided Sclerotherapy can be done for larger cosmetic
veins. With this technique, sclerotherapy is done while the doctor
visually monitors the vein on an ultrasound screen. This enables
treatment of below the surface veins that would otherwise require
surgical removal.
Laser
Treatments: Laser treatments are best used
on very small cosmetic/spider veins. A laser is place on the outside
of the skin is fired and goes through the skin to destroy the
very small spider veins. Multiple treatments are required for
this technique. Medical compression hose are worn for approximately
24 hours after laser treatments.
Please
refer to medical vein treatment for information about procedures
to resolve medical varicose veins. If you do have cosmetic spider
veins or have already had the medical veins taken care of then you
have many options, Sclerotherapy, Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy,
and Laser treatments.
Varicose Vein (Medical) FAQ
What
are varicose veins?
Veins
return blood to the heart. Veins in the legs flow upward struggling
against gravity and over time can fail. Blood pools causing unappealing
and sometimes painful bulges.
What
are the symtoms?
In addition to aches and fatigue in the legs, abnormal veins may
cause leg swelling, leg cramps, ulcers, and skin discoloration.
What
Causes Varicose Veins
Family
History: If someone in your family has varicose veins,
then you are more likely to be afflicted. About 50% of all women
and 25% of men develop varicose veins. If both of your parents
have varicose veins, then your chances of getting them are very
high.
Pregnancy:
Carrying around the extra weight and fluid associated
with pregnancy is exceptionally hard on the veins. The uterus
also presents a huge roadblock to the return of blood to the heart.
In the later months of pregnancy, the major veins runnning from
the groin up to the heart have a baby pushing against them restricting
the flow. The veins in the feet also have a much more difficult
job of returning the blood to the heart. Some veins just aren’t
up to the task and end up being stretched out or varicosed.
 Trauma
or Injury: Deep clots can form after surgery or an injury,
eventually causing varicose veins. People who get joints replaced
have about 20% chance of developing varicose veins.
What’s
the first step in varicose vein treatment?
A
consultation with a Phlebologist (Vein Specialist) is your best
starting point. You’re examined visually and a screening vein
blood flow test is performed. Since many spider veins are supplied
by deeper veins, Dr. Wolf personally performs an ultrasound and
identifies the abnormal veins.
Is it
important to treat varicose veins?
Yes. Abnormal veins may cause leg swelling, leg
cramps, restless leg syndrome, ulcers and skin discoloration. Removing
abnormal veins allows blood to be shifted to normal veins improving
circulation. Varicose Vein Disease gets worse without treatment
and may destroy veins which could have been used for Cardiac Bypass
Surgery. Varicose Veins also increase your risk of clots which may
travel to your lungs.
How are
veins treated?
Fortunately,
painful surgery, large scars, and stripping are things of the past.
There are two
general treatment options: conservative measures such as compression
stockings, and corrective methods such as sclerotherapy, surgery
and laser treatment. In some cases, a combination of treatments
works best.
Surgery:
Surgical techniques to treat varicose veins include ligation (tying
off of a vein), stripping (removal of a long segment of vein by
pulling it out with a special instrument), and ambulatory phlebectomy
(removal of veins through tiny incisions) as described further
below.
Surgery will
be performed using local anesthesia. Patients will return home
the same day as the procedure. Surgery is generally used to treat
large varicose veins.
Ultrasound
Guided Sclerotherapy: With this technique, sclerotherapy
is done while the doctor visually monitors the vein on an ultrasound
screen. This enables treatment of below the surface veins that
would otherwise require surgical removal.
A tiny needle
injects the veins with a medication that irritates the lining
of the vein. In response, the veins collapse and are reabsorbed.
Surface veins are no longer visible.
Sclerotherapy
relieves symptoms due to varicose and spider veins in most patients.
With this procedure, veins can be dealt with early to prevent
further complications. Several sclerotherapy sessions may be required
depending on the type and number of veins being treated.
Generally,
normal activities can be resumed after sclerotherapy. Medically
prescribed support hose may need to be worn for 24 hours to assist
in resolution of the veins.
The procedure,
performed in the doctor's office, usually causes only minimal
discomfort. "Bruising and pigmentation" changes may
occur after sclerotherapy. Bruising typically disappears within
1-2 weeks. Although pigmentation almost always fades, it can last
for several months. Scarring and other complication are rare.
Ambulatory
Phlebectomy:
Phlebectomy is a method of surgical removal of surface varicose
veins. This is done in our office using local anesthesia. Incisions
are tiny (stitches are not necessary) and typically leave nearly
imperceptible puncture-mark scars. After the vein has been removed
by phlebectomy, a bandage and compression stockings are worn for
a short period.
Endovenous Laser
Treatment: Endovenous Laser Treatment is an alternative to surgical
stripping of the great saphenous vein. A small laser fiber is inserted,
usually through a needle, into the damaged vein. Pulses of laser
light are delivered inside the vein, which causes the vein to collapse
and seal shut. The procedure is done in our office under local anesthesia.
Following the procedure a bandage and compression hose is placed
on the treated leg.
Each patient
presents a unique combination of vein problems and our treatment
is customized to meet their needs.
What is the next step to take for Vein Therapy?
Dr. Wolf offers
all treatment options. See if vein therapy is the right procedure
for you.
Call
us at 1-877-839-3223 with any question or to set an appointment
for a free consultation with one of Dr. Wolf’s specialists.
Or for a small fee you may schedule a screening with Dr. Wolf. Before
you make any commitment, let us explain our procedures to you and
what results you can expect. There is no obligation.
More
information about Vein Therapy: Costs
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