For those looking for a non-invasive way to reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, stretch -marks and soften fine lines and wrinkles, there is good news. We are now offering SkinPen, created by Bellus Medical. SkinPen is a state-of-the-art, collagen induction device that closely resembles a pen. The SkinPen works by creating micro-channels in the dermis to help products penetrate the skin more effectively and thereby increase their efficacy. In addition, the micro-channels help stimulate new collagen and elastin in the skin over the following weeks.

Performed in the office in about 30 minutes by a medical aesthetician or RN, the patient relaxes while a cool gel…

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Posted in: Uncategorized

More men than ever are choosing Coolscupting® for freezing away those unwanted love handles and pockets of fat that tend to increase as we age regardless of exercise or weight.

Why the big increase in the number of men seeking out this non-surgical fat reduction procedure? The fact that Coolsculpting® is non-invasive appears to be a big plus for men.  For those who like to be in control, the idea of any kind of anesthesia or surgery can be a turn-off. Since Coolsculpting® is an office procedure, it does not require any type of anesthesia and is non-surgical.

Men are sometimes accused of being quite sensitive to pain, and Coolsculpting® is a…

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Posted in: coolsculpting
Tags:coolsculpting

A very common complaint we hear from men and women is that they hate their neck, and more specifically, they want to get rid of their “turkey neck.”  It isn’t surprising given that the skin on the neck is one of the first to show signs of aging.  Frequently when we apply sunscreen, the exposed area of the neck is neglected.  It is fairly apparent to many people who notice the skin under their chin looks pretty good, while the skin at the bottom of their neck looks saggy, wrinkled or bumpy.

Some people have a genetic predisposition toward a sagging neck, but many people don’t begin to notice the…

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Posted in: Exilis Elite,Facial Surgery,Liposuction,Neck Lift,necklift,Ultherapy
Tags:aging neck,neck lift,necklift,sagging neck,turkey neck

When my patients invest in a surgical facelift, it is not surprising that they want their results to be maintained for as long as possible.  So what’s the secret to keeping your facelift looking fresh and your appearance more youthful?

The number one thing that helps maintain that youthful appearance is taking great care of your skin.  Maintaining your skin from the inside out is a great way to keep your skin looking fresh.  A diet that includes fresh fish, chicken, nuts, vegetables and fruits will provide you with a healthy glow. Keeping well hydrated is also important for helping…

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Posted in: face lift,Facial Surgery
Tags:facelift,facial plastic surgery

There is a new book out by Mireille Guiliano called, French Women Don’t Get Facelifts; The Secret of Aging with Style and Attitude. While no one will deny that aging gracefully and with a good attitude and great style is desirable, the fact is, French women do get facelifts.  While they may be less open about the fact than their American counterparts, they do, and have been, getting facelifts along with many other types of plastic surgery for decades.

I have been practicing plastic surgery for over thirty years, and one of my areas of specialization is plastic surgery of the face.  Often the main concerns I hear from men and…

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Posted in: Facial Surgery,In the News,necklift
Tags:cosmetic surgery,facelift,facial plastic surgery,MACS lift

Weightloss & Liposution in Grand Rapids, MI

Much to the disappointment of many of our patients, liposuction, Coolsculpting and Exilis Elite are not procedures that result in much weight loss.  They do help to sculpt and reshape the body.  All of these procedures do destroy fat cells permanently, but the end result of the procedures is that the body is more balanced and proportional.

We offer several types of liposuction, from SmartLipo Triplex, which is a triple wave length laser form of liposuction, Body-Jet liposuction which uses water to dislodge the fat cells, and Continue Reading...

Posted in: Body Jet Liposuction,coolsculpting,Exilis Elite,Liposuction,smartlipo
Tags:body contouring,body jet lipo,coolsculpting,fat freezing,liposuction,SmartLipo Triplex

There are many new non-surgical devices for improving appearance that come on the market each year.  Deciding which technology to choose that makes sense for our practice and patients can be a bit daunting.  We look for devices that are FDA approved, safe, and can offer significant, effective results.   Some years there are no non-surgical devices that fit our criteria.  This year, we have added BTL’s Exilis ELITE to our line of non-surgical treatment options.

A second generation device, Exilis ELITE utilizes radiofrequency technology that targets fat cells for body contouring and also offers skin tightening benefits.  It is an office procedure that…

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Posted in: Exilis Elite
Tags:Exilis,Exilis Elite,fat reduction,non-surgical facelift

As if there weren’t already enough evidence to convince the public of the negative health affects of smoking, a recent article in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery shows that smoking also greatly accelerates the aging process.

The study, led by Cleveland, Ohio plastic surgeon Dr. Bahman Guyuron, studied sets of twins from the Annual Days Festival held in Twinsburg, Ohio.  There were 79 sets of identical twins participating in the study. A panel of three plastic surgery residents were asked to compare the photos of identical twins, of which one had been a smoker for at least five years longer than the other.

The plastic…

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Posted in: In the News,Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,Radiesse,Research Study
Tags:anti-aging,facelift,Plastic surgery,radiesse

When it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon or procedure for your facial rejuvenation, the choices can be overwhelming.  Who is qualified to perform facelifts?  What are the differences between traditional facelift and a MACS lift?  What is a Lifestyle Lift?  Do the non-surgical options like Ultherapy and Exilis do the same thing?  What is a liquid facelift?  Which procedures provide the longest lasting results? What are the prices of the various procedures?

It would be a very long blog to answer all of the questions listed above, and often the answers will be different…

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Posted in: brow-lift,Facial Surgery,Ultherapy
Tags:ASAPS,ASPS,choosing best plastic surgeon,cosmetic surgery,facelift,facial plastic surgery

Thinking about a tummy tuck in Grand Rapids?

With all the new options in body contouring; SmartLipo, Body-Jet, Exilis Elite, CoolSculpting, just to name a few, you may wonder if tummy tucks are becoming a thing of the past. The short answer is no, not too likely.

Women who have had a pregnancy often come to the realization that even when they have lost their weight gain from the baby, there remains some loose skin from the sudden weight loss and the abdomen can still protrude in a way that it did not pre-pregnancy.  The problem is that the size of baby has stretched and separated the muscle (diastasis).  An…

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Posted in: abdominoplasty,Tummy Tuck
Tags:abdominoplasty,body contouring,grand rapids tummy tuck