Articles

Kolstad Facial Plastic Surgery is pleased to offer the Martinis & Makeovers Silent Auction a terrific trio of treatments designed to refresh your skin and brighten your Spring! Soften unwanted lines and wrinkles with 1 treatment area (25 units) of BOTOX Cosmetic(value: $375)Add volume and definition to your lips or soften the creases around your nose and mouth with 1 syringe of Juvederm (value $600) Refresh the look and feel of your skin without any downtime using a Glycolic Peel (value $200)In addition to the Silent Auction, the night will be filled with plenty of pampering, appetizers provided by Crisp! Catering, music, […]

A “liquid facelift” is a popular term for nonsurgical facial rejuvenation. A combination of dermal fillers, volumizers and Botox can provide a noninvasive solution for a refreshed, rejuvenated look. A liquid facelift works best on faces without significant laxity or advanced signs of aging. HOW A LIQUID FACELIFT WORKSAs your skin ages it loses collagen and the collagen that remains becomes haphazardly organized. The loss of collagen leads to the appearance of fine lines and creases. At the same time bundles of elastin in the skin lose their spring and the skin begins to sag, most noticeably in the jowls and […]

MSNBC news recently reported on the rapidly rising number of people seeking enhance the shape and appearance of their chins. They reported that chin augmentation increased 71 percent between 2010 and 2011, outdoing breast augmentation, liposuction and even Botox, which increased a mere five percent between 2010 and 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are several methods to determine if you are a candidate for chin augmentation. A weak chin is commonly seen in the profile view but can also be vertically or horizontally deficient. A chin augmentation procedure is nothing new and has […]

Nose surgery (rhinoplasty) can be performed for many reasons. Many times patients are not concerned with the size and shape of their nose, but have a difficulty breathing through one or both sides of their nose. When the goal of surgery is to improve the way the nose works it is termed a “functional rhinoplasty”. The following complaints can be addressed with San Diego functional rhinoplasty: FUNCTIONAL RHINOPLASTY A deviated septum A crooked nose resulting from trauma (broken nose) Difficulty breathing from either side of the nose Nostrils that collapse when taking a deep breath A bumpy or humped nose Rhinoplasty can also be performed to change […]

Can I have a nose job without going to surgery? What is injectable rhinoplasty? I have a small nasal bridge do I need surgery to fix it? These are common questions asked in Dr. Kolstad’s San Diego plastic surgery office. The good news is that not everybody looking to enhance the appearance of their nose needs surgery. If you are happy with the shape of the tip of your nose and pleased with the size of the nostrils, you may be a candidate for nonsurgical rhinoplasty. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is a procedure performed in the office to increase the size of a nasal […]

An eyelid lift can improve the fatigued and heavy-eyed look common to aging. Recovery from cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is relatively quick without significant discomfort or pain. In most cases the sutures are removed 3 days after surgery and people are back to work in a week. There will be swelling and bruising around the eyelids for a short period of time, typically about 7 – 10 days. Swelling and bruising will subside naturally as your body continues to heal. It may take several weeks for all of the swelling to be completely resorbed from the eyelids. AFTER EYELID SURGERYImmediately after the […]

Acne scars that result from severe cystic or nodular lesions can be improved using skin resurfacing procedures, dermal fillers or a combination of both. Skin resurfacing techniques are most effective in treating a global scarring pattern that affects multiple areas of the facial skin. Dermal fillers soften both superficial and deep, ice-pick scars. Dermal fillers are best suited for patients with mild scarring that affects only specific areas of the facial skin. The most important step in treating acne scars is to control any active acne. Skin resurfacing, dermal fillers, and skin bleaching medicines can all lead to outbreaks if the […]

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 […]