News

ABC News recently published an article addressing a frustration of many women. Adult onset of acne affects even those that did not experience acne during adolescence or their teenage years. For many women, hormonal fluctuations are the culprit leading to large cystic acne eruptions. The typical age of onset is between 20-29 years old. The good news is that there are a variety of safe and effective treatments. In my practice in La Jolla, I see many women with both active cystic acne and acne scars. The key is to treat the skin before deep “ice pick” scars develop. Cystic acne can […]

DERMAL FILLERSDepressed acne scars can be raised using injectable fillers. The goal is to elevate the surface of the scar to the level of the skin so a shadow is not cast in the depressed area. Any HA (hyaluronic acid) filler will work. HA products currently available include Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. Radiesse and Sculptra products are not acceptable acne scar treatments. Dr. Kolstad prefers to use Juvederm. Juvederm typically lasts about 8-12 months and can be repeated as necessary. Dr. Kolstad typically recommends Juvederm as a first line therapy for patients in his La Jolla (San Diego) plastic surgery practice. […]

POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION (PIH)PIH may also result from acne, leaving behind a flat area of discoloration on the skin ranging from pink to red, purple, brown or black depending on your skin tone and depth of the discoloration. While often mistaken as acne scarring, many of Dr. Kolstad’s patients are relieved to learn that these marks are not true acne scars and will fade over time. Unfortunately, it can take a year or longer for PIH to fully fade on its own. Acid chemical peels will improve the discoloration but are not for everyone. Medical grade peels are only performed by highly […]

Deep creases around the mouth are without a doubt the most difficult to treat rhytids (wrinkles) on the face. Even with the best technology available, multiple treatments using several modalities are typically required for a complete correction. That being said, the best treatment for deep creases around the mouth is prevention. Daily sunscreen combined with daily Retin-A are the most affordable and also two of the most effective preventative measures. The ever growing number of chemical peels available can be confusing to patients as well as doctors. Common superficial peels include Obaji, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, <20% TCA, and Glycerol. The advantages […]

CHEMICAL PEEL RECOVERY TIMERecovery from a mild chemical peel will require almost no recovery time at all. Some pinkness may be apparent for a short time, but this will fade quickly. Medium chemical peels may provide discomfort, redness, and some swelling for one to two days. Most people take about one week off of work to recover. The skin may be rose colored for a period of several weeks, but this is easily camouflaged with make-up. Deep chemical peels can take more than one week to recover from. Deep chemical peels provide the most dramatic results and are best for treating deep […]

ADD VOLUME TO YOUR FACE, PERMANENTLY. Our patients have several options for facial rejuvenation at Dr. Kolstad’s La Jolla Plastic Surgery office. A common complaint we hear from our patients pertains to the loss of facial volume. Even in faces without skin sagging, loss of facial volume can result in a deflated appearance. There are many injectable fillers that can be used to restore volume to the cheeks, lips, temples, and around the eyes. A popular alternative to temporary facial fillers is nonsurgical fat transfer. Unwanted fat can be removed from the abdominal and hip areas. After cleaning and purifying the fat […]

One of the most requested services at Dr. Kolstad’s La Jolla Plastic Surgery office is lip enhancement. The options for augmenting the size of your lips are many and you have the privilege of choosing which best suits your needs. Whether you are looking for voluptuous “movie star” lips or simply to restore lost volume, there is an ideal solution to meet your needs. There are a variety of surgical treatments to permanently add volume to your lips. Many times unwanted fat from your abdominal area can be transferred to your lips augmenting their shape and size. Permanent silicone implants can […]

Facelift surgery is the ultimate solution for facial aging. A lower facelift or necklift is the ideal treatment for improving the jowls, falling cheeks and a blunted neckline. For many people a facelift can turn back the clock 10 years or more. In San Diego and La Jolla the cumulative years of sun exposure are a major factor in premature facial aging. The main advantage of a facelift is that it tightens the skin as well as the deeper muscle and fibrous layers beneath. However, a facelift is not for everyone, and other skin tightening options are available. NONSURGICAL FACELIFTThe primary […]

Revision rates with inexperienced physicians have been reported to be as high as 20%. Rhinoplasty surgery is complicated and without question requires an experienced surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the face. While a dissatisfying outcome in nasal cosmetic surgery is possible in the most skilled hands, more commonly it comes from the hands of the occasional nasal surgeon. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your nose job, you may be a candidate for what’s called a revision rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty tends to be far more challenging then a primary surgery for a variety of reasons. Revision rhinoplasty […]

There is no single event that defines facial aging. Rather, several independent phenomena evolve over time changing the way our face looks in the mirror. Cumulative years of sun exposure accelerate the aging process in San Diego and La Jolla. As we age we lose fat and volume in our cheeks. In addition, the fat that remains succumbs to gravity and descends into areas where fat is not supposed to be located. What is left is hollows around the eyes, prominent tear troughs, nasolabial folds and sunken cheeks. There are many options for replacing the lost facial volume. Injectable Fillers like Sculptra, […]