Aging, gravity and sun damage can all contribute to loose, sagging skin and excess fat in the neck and jowl areas, which is commonly known as the turkey neck.  I can now utilize innovative plasma and radio frequency energy, with Renuvion/J-Plasma technology to instantly tighten the face and neck. Renuvion neck tightening stimulates collagen and shrinking of the skin and can establish a well-defined neck and jawline without a surgical face lift. These dramatic results can be obtained with lower risks and recovery time than more invasive surgery, because the skin is tightened and refreshed from the inside out. 

After determining the best approach, I mark the jowl and neck areas, and mild sedation is administered, so you experience no pain or discomfort. General anesthesia is typically not used.  I begin by inserting a very small and thin tube, called a cannula, into the trouble area to remove any built-up fat and open up the tissues to increase effectiveness.  Then I insert the Renuvion J-Plasma wand underneath the skin through a very small incision. A combination of cold helium plasma and radio frequency energy are delivered to the whole neck area, uniformly heating the tissues, which enables the coagulation and tightens the cells internally. The helium energy also encourages production of new collagen in the treated skin, facilitating improvement that  continues for several months.  

This procedure requires very little downtime.  You may notice some swelling and bruising for a few days afterward, but most patients feel well enough to return to work within a few days. Any discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.

Youthfulness is characterized by bright skin and a full face. To have these, as well as a reduction in brown spots, aging spots, loose skin or fine wrinkling, I recommend my personally designed “Concord Peel.” Its foundation is the “Forever Young” procedure, which uses Broadband light technology from Sciton to functionally rejuvenate the skin and delay skin aging.  This in-office treatment uses 5 different wavelengths of laser light in a single session using topical local anesthesia (no shots).  Typically, patients get 1 to 3 of these treatments about a month apart. Afterwards, your brown spots lighten, your face looks brighter, your skin looks smoother, tighter and more youthful, pink or red blood vessels are substantially reduced, and small wrinkles and sun damage are lessened. Over this time, you go on to improve from an immune response to treatments, which respond fully in one or over several treatments. We always perform a Visia skin analysis with your consultation, and then a few months after your treatment, to fully assess your progress. 

After the five Forever Young wavelengths, my Concord Peel then adds an additional Erbium laser resurfacing treatment, which results in your face, neck and decollete looking younger. You will experience a slight pinkness from the time of the laser until the next morning, but it is less than a light sunburn.  Broadband light energy is applied to your skin, followed by a very light laser ablation peel. We apply Aquaphor to your skin and you can drive yourself home.  Your social downtime is essentially the day of the procedure but some people even return to work later that same day, and you can see results almost immediately. 

If new found down time has been imposed upon you, you are not alone in the thought that it may be time to do something for yourself. My patients carefully discuss their decision about surgery or office treatments prior to having them performed. Most recently, those who have noted that their work schedules lightening up are deciding to have the surgery, laser treatments, body contouring, or other fillers or injections they want. The social distancing that is being imposed is an opportunity for you to have a short recovery procedure or no down time treatment and return to work a better you.

Recent precautions have been implemented out of an abiding concern for safety, but it must be noted that you will have continued care and services in my practice at Mentor Plastic Surgery. As long as you are healthy, COVID-19 should not affect your personal ability to have surgery or in office treatments or services performed. Even if we were not being impacted by the civil, media, and emotional responses to this virus, the health of our patient at the time of surgery or office treatment is always of critical importance, which is why we schedule pre-testing before surgery can be performed. My OR, anesthesia team, and nurses are very enthusiastic about taking care of you in my surgical practice! My aesthetician and massage therapy look forward to providing you expert office services!

Our goal is not only to keep you looking beautiful, but also to keep you healthy and safe.

I truly appreciate that you have asked such an honest question, and I will give you an honest answer. The primary difference is in the person who is responsible for injecting the fillers.

In addition to earning the status of a double board-certified surgeon, I am also a biochemist and a researcher for the National Institutes of Health. This knowledge means that I know how the human body works, and I understand how to manipulate its structures to unlock and reveal my patients’ beauty. Along with the knowledge, I have extensive scientific training and almost 25 years of experience, a combination that allows me to know precisely where and how much is needed to inject in any exact location. I am always humbled when some people call me an “artist,” but it is because I have committed my entire education and career to being the very best physician I can be.

I am amazed at how many people trust their faces and bodies to so many different types of practitioners with varying levels of education, training, knowledge and experience. The filler companies set basic guidelines, but it is up to each practitioner to not only follow these but to know how different faces are structured, above and below the skin, and how these variances affect the injection process. In some cases, improperly placed fillers and injectables actually can make people look older or unattractive. There is a balance with what looks better on the outside and what needs to be done beneath the surface. This cannot be learned in a textbook or weekend training course.

Vaginoplasty is a procedure which intends to “tighten up” a vagina that’s become slack or loose from childbirth or aging. Labiaplasty is plastic surgery on the labia (the “lips” surrounding the vagina) that can be performed alone or with vaginoplasty. Surgery can be performed on the labia majora (the larger, outer vaginal lips), or the labia minora (the smaller, inner vaginal lips). Labiaplasty changes the size or shape of the labia, typically making them smaller or correcting an asymmetry between them.

While people may think these are procedures to enhance sexual pleasure, most of my patients have these procedures for appearance and comfort. Vaginal tissues can stretch, but surgically tightening the tissue cannot guarantee a heightened sexual response, since that is conditioned as much by emotional, spiritual and interpersonal factors as aesthetic ones. Additionally, greater “sensitivity” doesn’t automatically lead to more pleasure – it can actually lead to pain.

Recently, vaginoplasty has grown into a group of cosmetic surgeries known as “vaginal rejuvenation” and “designer vagina” procedures, with the same benefits to women as with other cosmetic surgeries, such as beauty, self-esteem and confidence. In reality, this is a very personal
and private decision. According to the ACOG, there’s no one “look” or way for a vagina and labia to be formed.

Although these procedures have become quite common and get great results, I know there is still some hesitation to discuss them. I urge you to have a private consultation and we can discuss your particular details and options.

Health Focus is a weekly article in the Lake County News Herald featuring a Q & A with Dr. Vanek.

Q: Are Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery the same?

Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are closely related, but different. Perhaps these terms are used interchangeably because some plastic surgeons focus their practice on cosmetic surgery. Both are intended to improve a patient’s body, but the philosophies guiding the education, research, and goals for patient outcomes are different.

Plastic surgery defined

Plastic surgery is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease, and is reconstructive in nature. Examples include breast reconstruction, congenital defect repairs, lower extremity reconstruction, hand surgery, burn repairs, and scar revisions.

Cosmetic surgery defined

Cosmetic surgery is focused on enhancing a patient’s appearance, and are elective. They can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body, and most common procedures include breast enhancement, facial contouring and rejuvenation, body contouring, and skin rejuvenation.

While many plastic surgeons choose to complete additional training and also perform cosmetic surgery, the basis of surgical training is reconstructive plastic surgery. The training and certification process for board certified plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons is very different.

What does it mean to be a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?

Physicians who become board certified in plastic surgery must complete a general surgery residency plus another 2 years in plastic surgery. Residency programs in plastic surgery may include cosmetic surgery as a portion of their training. Any licensed physician can legally perform cosmetic surgery, so it is important to do your research when choosing your surgeon. Some doctors are not board certified at all. I continue to be one of the few in our area who is double-board certified, in general and plastic surgery.

Contact us to set up your own consultation or answer any question you may have.

Dr. Paul Vanek MD, FACS
Vanek Plastic Surgery
9485 Mentor Ave #100
Mentor, OH 44060
440-205-5750