By Lori Lovely
Our faces present an introduction to the world, providing a first impression and a glimpse of who we are, so we want to look our best when meeting people. We want to be ourselves, just a better version, with a natural look that doesn’t reveal our improvement secrets.
That’s what The Facial Plastic, Laser Surgery Center & MedSpa, part of The Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group, has been delivering to residents of Central Illinois since 2006: aesthetic, cosmetic, and reconstructive services for natural-looking improvements.
Plastic surgery
Whether a patient wants to look younger or simply wants to correct a feature that causes self-consciousness, the Surgery Center provides an extensive list of plastic surgery procedures and minimally invasive treatments to address the issues.
Popular procedures include the following:
- Face, neck, and brow lifts
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
- Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
- Ear reshaping (otoplasty)
- Laser rejuvenation — fractionated CO2 laser therapy and resurfacing
- Cosmetic fillers and injections such as Juvederm, Radiesse, and Botox
“Good plastic surgery doesn’t announce that work has been done,” says Christopher Lansford, M.D. and medical director at the Center. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon who studied at the University of Michigan Medical School, he completed his residency at Duke University before heading up the Surgery Center in Peoria.
One of the most popular procedures he performs is rhinoplasty. Not always merely a cosmetic procedure, he says it’s sometimes done for functional benefits to improve breathing and sinus issues. Whatever the reason, the result is usually the same: improved self-confidence.
“A nose looks best when it’s not prominent and doesn’t distract from other features of the face, like the eyes,” Dr. Lansford states. He says most of his patients choose rhinoplasty to “eliminate a hump on their nose, refine the tip, or correct a deviation.”
Another popular option is regaining a youthful face and neck. “Many people look tired or angry due to laxity and descent of tissues in the face and neck,” he explains. “Inside, they feel fine, but the message the face is giving is ‘I’m tired. I’m old. I’m angry. I’m sour.’ An outpatient procedure can change all that to say, ‘I’m energetic, youthful, and inviting.’”
Restoring lost volume to the lips and cheeks, eliminating loose skin of the cheeks, eyelids, and forehead, and smoothing wrinkles can do wonders for improving the message our faces send.
Minimally invasive treatments
Not everyone wants to undergo surgery. Many of the minimally invasive procedures performed by the Center require little to no downtime; some can even be performed during a lunch break, allowing patients to return to their daily schedule that afternoon.
Botox provides a less invasive method of volumizing the face and reducing lines, including frown lines and forehead wrinkles that can impart an angry appearance. Injected into the muscle, Botox lasts about three months and can reduce signs of aging.
Other minimally invasive procedures offered by the Center include the injectable fillers Juvaderm and Restalyne, which can correct many of the typical signs of aging, such as loss of volume, wrinkles, and folds. As styles change, Dr. Lansford is also seeing patients who want to repair their dilated or torn earlobes and remove tattoos.
Medical spa
The Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery Center’s MedSpa is the place where medical knowledge, relaxation, and rejuvenating therapy unite. It also offers several minimally invasive procedures. Different than a day spa, which are limited by law to offering only over-the-counter products that cannot affect significant change to the skin, the MedSpa provides medical treatments customized to each client’s needs in a comfortable and relaxing environment.
“Most of our services are correctional, such as laser hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, facials, body waxing, and resurfacing,” says Melissa Fravala, the MedSpa’s licensed esthetician.
Two of the most commonly requested services are laser hair reduction and tattoo removal, but Fravala says another popular request is for their new Intense Pulse Light Therapy to diminish dark spots and discolorations of the skin. Retinol is another way to lighten spots on the skin.
ResurFx, a new and highly effective skin resurfacing procedure, is rapidly gaining popularity. ResurFx diminishes fine lines, wrinkles, and scars from surgery, acne, and accidents. It is the only true fractional non-ablative laser technology available, and Fravala says they are the only center in Peoria offering it.
Fravala points out that she and the doctor use a team approach when recommending treatment options to a patient. “Many times, the treatments I provide can be very effective, but in cases of deep wrinkles or pronounced scaring, Dr. Lansford’s expertise is needed,” she states.
Although Fravala is specially trained in state-of-the-art laser treatments, all treatments she performs are under the supervision of the on-site, board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Lansford.
Treatments are customized to the client’s needs and goals, using medical-grade and prescription-strength products to produce more visible, long-lasting results. Fravala says, “I start with a consultation with each client to make sure we choose the treatment that will give them the results they want.”
Treatment doesn’t stop at the door. Professional guidance helps clients maintain optimal results. Fravala suggests using professional skin care products from their line of PCA Skin in a daily regimen that will prolong results and help skin stay soothed and hydrated. “The biggest changes come from working daily at home with the right products,” she says.
“These are quality clinical products,” she continues, “but they’re very affordable. You spend money on skin care products; make sure you get something good. Many products you see in the stores have a lot of preservatives to give them a long shelf life.” Preservatives can clog pores and cause wrinkles — the very thing people use the products to eliminate.
Time will tell
It’s never too early to start treatments, Fravala believes, explaining that some of her clients are in their teens and early twenties.
Although Dr. Lansford also treats people of all ages, some procedures are more common with adults who choose to turn back the years, while others, like nose surgery, are often chosen by younger patients wishing to benefit from the procedure all their adult lives.
Whatever the age of the client, the Center’s goal is to make people feel better about themselves, Dr. Lansford states. “When you look better, you feel better. If you think about it, we already choose to optimize our appearance in so many ways: hairstyles, cosmetics, clothing… Plastic surgery is just another step, and you can wear the benefits every day!”
He points out that both the safety and the results of cosmetic surgery have greatly improved over the years, and that what was once a stigmatizing undertaking is now a common choice to match people’s outward appearance to how they wish to present themselves.
Although insurance doesn’t pay for most of these procedures, Dr. Lansford says they can be a great value.
Despite the increasing popularity of cosmetic procedures, some people remain hesitant. Dr. Lansford tailors the plan to the individual, using imaging software to preview the expected results. “This allows me to be sure that I understand the client’s goal,” he says.
As a premier full-service cosmetic surgery facility in Peoria, The Facial Plastic Laser Surgery Center & MedSpa delivers a one-of-a-kind-experience with both surgical and non-surgical solutions to help clients look young and vibrant — and to help them present their best face to the world.
For more information, contact
The Facial Plastic Laser Surgery Center & MedSpa at 309-589-3223 or online at www.specialface.com.