FAQ

Pain and discomfort vary from one person to the next. Typically, it is easily controlled with medication.

Prescription medications are taken as needed during the first week. Many patients find they can switch to tylenol after the first couple of days.

Pain and discomfort vary from one person to the next. Typically, it is easily controlled with medication.

Prescription medications are taken as needed during the first week. Many patients find they can switch to tylenol after the first couple of days.

Most of my procedures can be safely performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. I am currently working at a surgery center where we have the option of general anesthesia for those who prefer it.

With all cosmetic procedures, the duration of results vary according to your current age and other lifestyle factors. Although we have turned back the clock on your appearance, your natural aging will continue at your unique rate. The good news is that you will always appear younger than had you not had anything done. You can also learn to slow the aging process by lifestyle changes and return for periodic touch up and enhancement procedures as needed.

Typical sessions are planned for between 1-3 hours depending on your needs. You should expect to be at the facility an additional hour or more to prepare you for the procedure.

Since the procedure combinations are customized for each person, cost will vary. Although the average person may be looking for results that need a few enhancements, we can work within your budget to get you started on your transformation. You can address more areas when it is feasible or as new concerns arise. Eliminating the cost of general anesthesia has helped not only with safety, but has reduced the cost of many procedures. Dr. Fink has safely performed thousands of procedures under local anesthesia and it is his preferred technique in most cases.

General anesthesia is available for additional cost if desired.

Pain and discomfort vary from one person to the next. Typically, it is easily controlled with medication.

Prescription medications are taken as needed during the first week. Many patients find they can switch to tylenol after the first couple of days.

Pain and discomfort vary from one person to the next. Typically, it is easily controlled with medication.

Prescription medications are taken as needed during the first week. Many patients find they can switch to tylenol after the first couple of days.

You are never too young or old to begin skin care to protect from the elements. Most of our patients are in their mid-30’s to early 80’s. There are many surgical and non surgical options to improve and help maintain your appearance.

A detailed assessment of your appearance, goals and health can help determine which facial rejuvenation options are right for you.

Pain and discomfort vary from one person to the next. Typically, it is easily controlled with medication.

Prescription medications are taken as needed during the first week. Many patients find they can switch to tylenol after the first couple of days.

Yes, more men are having facial rejuvenation procedures than ever before.

Because of the numerous factors involved with surgery and healing, all procedures have some degree of risk. These will be discussed in the context of your known health conditions and specific to each procedure during your consultation.

Most of the time, these risks are quite rare but Dr. Fink will help advise you if something is out of the ordinary.

Together we will formulate a plan that reduces the risk as much as can be anticipated. Your safety is always top priority.

Preparation begins in the weeks prior to surgery by avoiding medications and supplements known to affect blood clotting.

A complete list will be provided when your procedures are scheduled. If you are on prescription blood thinners, we will need your physicians assistance with clearing you for surgery. Supplements like Arnica montana that are available over the counter, can be taken in the days prior to the procedure. There is some evidence that it reduces bruising and swelling afterward. Compression garmets and application of ice in the first 2-3 days is also helpful while keeping your head elevated and your activity to a minimum.

A Lift by Sonobello is/was a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia with sedation. I am very familiar with the technique as I performed it at their San Diego surgical center. The technique is similar to a SMAS facelift combined with a platysmaplasty and it was often combined with rejuvenation of the eye region.  To my knowledge, the company no longer offers this procedure deciding to focus mostly on Body Liposuction. Because it is surgery, the results are immediate and recovery times average 1.5-2 weeks with some residual healing. I performed a similar technique for 10 years before Sonobello offered it. I still perform this type of procedure on new and established patients at my Newport Beach Office. The advantages are safety with less risks, less operating and recovery time, and natural results.

The eyebrows will gradually lower with age anyway so it is best to not alter them surgically. In my opinion, your best bet is using a botulinum toxin since the effect is temporary. Getting the right dose in the right place can be tricky, so it’s best to see someone who is experienced and start conservatively until the ideal dose and placement is determined.

Facelift photos can be helpful in selecting a surgeon. It can not only demonstrate a sampling of work, but is also an indication of what your surgeon believes is a good result. Although photos can be helpful, they can also be deceiving.  Keep in mind that not all patients will allow their photos to be shown, so you may not be seeing a complete representation of the work. Of course the photos will usually be cases that turned out well. In any case, look for consistency in lighting, facial expressions and use of make-up between the before and after photos. These factors can markedly influence the appearance aside from the actual effect of the surgery. For example, almost everyone looks better when smiling or with makeup, so a comparison to a smiling after photo or with makeup, (and even jewelry or new hairstyles) can make it difficult. Look for a variety of examples of people with different facial features and find some that are similar to yours.  Find out if other procedures were also performed to achieve the changes that you may seeing. The amount of time since the procedure is also an important consideration in assessing the healing of scars and the temporary effects of swelling.

This is great question. Generally a facelift will firm the slack in the skin of the cheek.  This may affect the apparent depth and loose skin and extra folds around the dimple. As long as the undermining of the skin isn’t directly below the dimple itself, it will remain. It is not common to undermine in this area.

This is a great question as there are many options for treating wrinkles on the face. Wrinkles that result from lack of support in or  under the skin can be improved with fillers. Wrinkles that are from folding and movement around the mouth can benefit from some of the newer more elastic fillers. In the upper face, botox sometimes in combination with fillers may be helpful.  Wrinkles from thinning skin benefit from collagen stimulation from chemical peels,  laser devices or  micro-needling (with or without radio frequency energy) and/or  good skin care products.  Wrinkles from too much skin excess may require surgery with or without the above procedures.

Fractionated CO2 laser can resurface, tighten and thicken the skin by building collagen. Generally it is recommended when the skin is thin with mild to moderate laxity. Improving tone can help the “bags” look better but will not remove fat. If there is good tone and a minimal fat bulge, sometimes fillers can be used to minimize the appearance by blending the eyelid with the cheek (filling the tear trough). Both of these are less invasive options than surgery but are not without risks.  If the skin is too loose or the fat bulge is too great, surgery may be the best option. Sometimes a combination of treatments is recommended. I hope these general principals are helpful to your situation.

This is a great question. I usually advise  that  it is  best to be within 10-15 pounds of the weight that you can maintain before having a facelift. A face lift repositions and firms loose tissues, contours fat deposits and then removes redundant skin at that point in time.  Losing significant weight after a facelift can result in visibly loose skin. The elasticity or recoil of the skin diminishes with aging.  In general, the closer you are to your ideal body weight, the more defined your result. This is because the  bone structure that determines your facial shape will be more evident. This is not to say that firming and removing loose tissues will not be an improvement in someone who is not at ideal weight. Some fat stored  beneath the skin can be contoured and removed along with any loose skin.  But  fat is  also stored in deeper tissues where it is not easily accessed by surgery without greater risks. In my experience, facelift results usually last longer in people who  maintain a more stable weight after surgery as well.