Can the results of my cosmetic procedure be permanent a question I often get about
different cosmetic procedures is if the results of a particular procedure we discuss will be
permanent while many medical cosmetic procedures can have lasting results very few procedures
if any are truly permanent the face and other parts of the body continue to change throughout
your life I'll discuss the different factors related to the longevity of cosmetic procedures
I'm Dr Amiya Prasad I'm a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and Fellowship-trained
oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon I've been practicing in New York City and Long
Island for over 25 years with a large part of my practice focusing in treating facial aging
with surgical procedures like facelifts cosmetic eyelid surgery facial implant surgery
I also performed hair transplantation as well as non-surgical procedures like lasers
for skin rejuvenation injectable treatments like cosmetic fillers neurotoxins and our TrichoStem
Hair Regeneration treatment for the treatment of male and female pattern hair loss while medical
cosmetic procedures can help address changes associated with aging obviously aging itself
cannot be stopped for example people often ask if wrinkles under the eyes can be treated permanently
while we can improve the appearance of wrinkles under the eyes with procedures like
laser resurfacing and PRP to improve skin quality doesn't mean that lower eyelid skin is no longer
subject to normal aging environmental exposure and a person's lifestyle choices after treatment
people who ask about permanent results are often unaware
about how their general health and lifestyle impacts the longevity of their treatment
while aging changes are unavoidable there are lifestyle factors that can actually accelerate
the effects of aging and accelerate having an aged appearance these lifestyle factors
that can make someone look older than their age include excessive alcohol consumption smoking
poor diet too much sun exposure severe stress and even chronic lack of sleep
simply stated what's happening on the inside very much affects the appearance on the outside
during consultation I often discuss potential longevity of results rather than permanence the
benefits of some procedures do last longer than others lower eyelid surgery for example is has
very good long-term benefits and can last over 10 years the reason for this is that the herniated
fat responsible for under eye bags are in specific compartments the appearance after fat has been
sculpted tends to be stable as the fat left behind is in other compartments which have not herniated
I've seen patients who I treated in the early days of my practice state two decades later how their
eyes still look great depending on the age you are when you have under eye surgery bone changes
and some limited fat prolapse can be addressed years after surgery for under eye bags has been
performed injectable fillers as a category is a place where the desire for permanent results
have had too many disastrous outcomes for example there are semi-permanent and permanent fillers
available such as those made with material called polyacrylamide although these types
of fillers can have very good successful clinical trials for regulatory approval it doesn't change
the fact that this type of filler cannot be easily removed if a complication were to happen
permanent filler materials can cause foreign body reactions or if infection occurs surgical
procedures will have to be performed to remove the material and the tissue the material is
infiltrated in in contrast hyaluronic acid fillers provide long-term benefits and are
safely metabolized by the body hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the body so these fillers are
effectively hypoallergenic making foreign body reactions very rare hyaluronic acid fillers
also don't require surgery to be removed generally as they can be easily dissolved
with the enzyme hyaluronidase hyaluronidase also occurs naturally in the body it is important to
remember that our bodies particularly our faces not permanent one of the first signs
of facial aging which becomes more significant in the mid to late 30s is facial volume loss
with aging facial structures such as muscle fat soft tissue and most of all bone progressively
diminishes with age many people assume that facial implants for example such as cheek implants are
permanent because they don't lose volume with time like fillers would but your bone structure
still progressively diminishes and years after an implant was placed many facial implants may
look out of proportion and even appear more visible or have visible edges as you get older
we're living in a time when we can do more than ever safely help people look their best at any age
the benefits of some procedures do last longer than others in my opinion with so
many options and overwhelming marketing anyone considering cosmetic enhancement should have a
trusted physician to be their guide a treatment plan focused on your safety with
maximum longevity can help you look your best for the years to come i hope this information from my
experience helped you if you're interested in recommendations for your individual situation
you may contact us through our websites or call our offices to schedule a consultation thank you
you