Frown lines

Philosophers say that we should enjoy the process of aging because life is a gift. Those of us who notice frown lines and forehead furrows, laugh lines and other annoying wrinkles developing probably have a different opinion about aging. For some, this may be so frustrating that you wish for a permanent fix to nix your frown lines.

Unfortunately, science has not uncovered a secret formula that acts as a fountain of youth. There is technically no permanent solution to fix frown lines. However, there are ways for you to achieve the results you desire for months and even years.

Short-Term Solutions

There are so many short term solutions on the market for frown lines and other wrinkle types. Many of them come in the form of lotions and creams that you can buy in the store. The effectiveness of these store bought items varies from product to product and person to person.

For a more effective solution, you may want to consider injectables like Botox. This is a quick and easy solution that can have you in and out of the office in less than an hour. It takes as long as a week for you to see the full results of a Botox treatment. Once you do, the treatment can last as long as four to six months. The few symptoms that can be experienced are short lived.

You also have the option to use absorbable injectable fillers like collagen and hyaluronic acid gel. Unlike Botox in which facial muscles are frozen, this type of injectable solution actually fills the muscles.

Before you decide to be injected with anything, speak with your surgeon about the risks and side effects involved with injectable remedies.

Long-Term Solutions

If you are not against the idea of the long term alternatives that plastic surgery offers, then a forehead lift may be a good solution for you. Talk about your goals with a board certified surgeon. Depending on what you decide, the procedure will include a full re-positioning of the eyebrows or it can be a much simpler process that targets one area.

Naturally, if you decide to pursue the route of surgery, there will be a longer recovery time than with remedies that are just injected. Just like with any surgery, you will be going under the knife and receiving some form of sedation. You may even have to spend the night in the hospital. Just remember that with surgery, comes side effects. You can talk with one of the best plastic surgeons that Las Vegas women feel comfortable with to explain this for you in detail.

Don’t wait. Schedule a consultation with Reynolds Plastic Surgery to see what your best options are. For more information, call our board certified plastic surgeon in Las Vegas at 702.410.9800.

Botox a Fix for “Gummy” Smiles?

52-year-old Susanna Miller-Pence didn’t feel comfortable smiling. It wasn’t because of her teeth, but the appearance of her gums bothered her. Every time she smiled, her upper lip was up so high thata large portion of her gums was exposed. This gave her a gummy smile, which she was not a fan of it. Miller-Pence stated, “The doctor explained that my gums were longer than my teeth, so the dimensions weren’t right.”

In 1999, Miller-Pence had an operation to remove the extra gum tissue, which is known as a gingivectomy. Just one month later, she couldn’t stop smiling. Finally, she didn’t have a gummy smile.

What causes gummy smiles?

There are a variety of reasons why people have gummy smiles. The most common reasons include having a short upper lip, excessive gum tissue or small teeth. Unfortunately, all of these problems are hereditary. Ideally, a smile should only show about two millimeters of gum.

Dr. Stan Heifetz, New York cosmetic dentist, stated, “Anything over three to four millimeters of gum showing starts to look gummy.”

Dentists, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have all done research on the matter. Nearly all the participants agreed that two millimeters or less of gum tissue produced the most normal smiles. Participants of the studies began noticing excessive gum tissue at three millimeters, and most people felt that over four millimeters was too much. Doctors concluded that approximately 14 percent of women and 7 percent of men have gummy smiles.

Dr. Jessica Suber, a physician in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, stated, “I believe the incidence is probably higher than we think, but we specialists just see and count the ones we treat, which are on the low side since not many people come to the doctor and ask about treatments for this. It’s something a lot of patients aren’t aware of.”

Botox as a Solution

Years ago, surgery was the only option to treat the problem. This is a very painful and costly solution. Fortunately, a study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal from March found that Botox could eliminate the appearance of a gummy smile.

Botox does provide a more cost efficient alternative to surgery. Typically, Botox costs a couple hundred dollars. The surgery that Miller-Pence underwent cost her $15,000, which is not covered by insurance. Botox is also a safer alternative.

Unfortunately, the use of Botox to correct a gummy smile will only work if the problem is in the lips. If the problem is in the bone, surgery would be the only option.

An exact number of operations done to correct gummy smiles are hard to determine, as most patients that undergo the procedure will combine it with other medical treatments. From 2005 to 2006, the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute estimated that 569,160 gingivectomies were performed.

If you suffer from a gummy smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. If the problem is in your lips, he can fix it by injecting Botox. He is a board certified plastic surgeon so you can be sure he will produce aesthetically pleasing results. For more information about plastic surgery in Las Vegas, contact 702.410.9800.