Dr. Fadi T. Hamadani

Hello and thank you for your question. In short, absolutely. Laser is a very powerful tool for the treatment of as variety of acne scars and should be part of the armamentarium of any doctor treating acne scars. Depending on the type of acne scars, type and tone of skin, age of the scars, and other health factors laser alone or in combination with other modalities can be very effective.

Hi and thank you for your question. Minoxidil is a very safe medication, overall.

Thank you for your question. Nothing in particular. I have my patients follow a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and exercise for several weeks prior to the procedure. I have them take a shower in the morning with an iodine prep. Further instructions will be provided by your doctor.

Hi and thank you for your question. Diabetes, when it is well controlled, should not impact your lip surgery too much. A careful review of your history should help identify any areas that would require optimization prior to surgery. Talk to your doctor.

Hi and thank you for your question. In your question, you ask if liposuction is considered a permanent treatment. As you know, medicine is never an exact science. In general, it is considered a permanent treatment in the sense that it is highly unlikely that fat can grow back in the areas that are liposuctioned. This is barring major weight gain.

Thank you for your question. In your question, you ask about the possibility of breast augmentation surgery leading to nerve damage. I can definitely help guide you as you decide. The risk for nerve damage is always a possibility in most surgeries, but it is not a particularly high risk in breast augmentation surgery. It is higher in breast reduction. Current literature suggests the risk is at 0.5%. I would strongly advise you to seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon with a lot of experience performing breast augmentation surgery. In general, when nerve damage occurs it is temporary and rarely it is permnant.

Hello and thank you for your question. In your question, you ask about discoloration around the mouth area. This is a common area to develop some hyperpigmentation or in rarer instances hypopigmentation. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, it is an area that may be oily (part of the T-zone). Secondly, hormonal changes (caused by ovarian cysts or other factors) also make this area susceptible to pigmentary changes. My approach is to take a thorough history and examine the region under a Wood's Lamp, which is a special UV light that can reveal the depth of the pigmentation. We would need to correct any hormonal issues if present first. In general, deep pigmentation, or dermal hyperpigmentation is more difficult to treat regardless of the tools we use, be it peeling or lasers. There is almost always an initial positive response and over 90% of the pigments do come back in about 6-9 months. More superficial pigmentation or epidermal pigmentation is much more responsive to treatment. Options include judicious use of sun protection (high SPF, preferable physical sunblocks with Zn), blanching creams (with or without hydroquinone, kojic acid, glycolic acid, vitc, etc.) A great one is TRILUMA. Further steps may include peels with Retinol and Vit C, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, and so on. Lasers such Q-switched Nd:YAG, Pico, or even fractional can be very effective. Newer agents on the block include the use of tranexamic acid, glutathione, and PRP.

Hello and thank you for your question. A jaw contouring treatment can be performed using three types of fillers:


1. Hyaluronic acid fillers which can be reversed using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Potential side effects here include short-term swelling/redness/pain at the injection sites. Usually, very short-lived side effects and the results will require top-ups every few months to one year. Infection, bruising, and asymmetry may also be potential side effects that would require intervention.
2. Collagen boosters - these include materials such as Radiesse which is made from a different material. These fillers have the advantage of boosting more of the body's own collagen and lasting a little longer, but carry the risk of forming nodules that are difficult to treat and may last for up to one year or longer. There is no known enzyme to break down this material, but in experienced hands, it is safe and effective. Sculptra and Ellanse are other options in this class.
3. Fat from your own body. This has the advantage of being natural, very long-lasting, and effective but the down-side is that it's more invasive, requiring anesthesia and more instrumentation and has a longer down-time.

As always, the best approach is to seek out the services of a board-certified, experienced practitioner.

Good luck.

Hi and thank you for your question. You state in your question that you'd like to learn more about Botox and what a treatment entails.

Botox is a naturally occurring protein that, when used in small amounts, paralyzes the muscles of the face, leading to a reduction in wrinkles. It is safe and effective when used in the upper face muscles, the ones that lead to horizontal forehead lines, frown lines, and crow's feet wrinkles around the eye. There are several other uses for it as well, but these are the standard treatment areas.

Hi and thank you for your question. "Facial contouring" usually means the addition of some hyaluronic acid or other types of fillers to areas of the face that have either lost some volume (i.e. mostly fat, some bone). They are a safe and effective means of fighting some of the earlier signs of aging. Safety depends more on the experience of the injector and their approach. Make sure to ask to see pictures of previous cases and to find out who'll be performing the injection.

Hi and thank you for your question. You ask if RF or laser technology can be helpful in treating accident or traumatic scars. While both these technologies may have an important role, it really depends on the scar type. A variety of treatments may often be necessary. We apply the scar type to the appropriate treatment, never the treatment or device to the scar. Please seek out a scar revision specialist in your area.

Hi and thank you for your question. You ask if Botox is safe for someone in their 50s with diabetes. The short answer is yes. For the botox to be effective it is best that the sugar levels be controlled.

Hello and thank you for reaching out. I understand that you are a 27-year-old man who is noticing baldness. You inquire about a permanent solution and wonder is a hair transplant may help you. I can definitely help to answer your question. Male baldness is very common, with more than 2 billion men suffering from this worldwide in various forms. Before you can begin to discuss options you need to get a good diagnosis. Most hair loss is the result of androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern hair loss. There are other reasons too. So, the first step is to seek out a professional hair restoration surgeon in your area to have a full assessment and determine the type of hair loss and the grade.

Once this is established and depending on the type of hair loss several options can be discussed. These include medications (Minoxidil, Finasteride) that may help reduce your hair loss and increase the quantity of hair. PRP and several other newer treatments are also available. A hair restoration session is definitely another good option if there are no contraindications in your case.

Hi and thank you for your question.

You state in your question that you'd like to learn more about the options for reconstructive surgery or treatments for improving the appearance of scars. I can give you some insight as scar revision is a big part of my practice. Scars come in many different forms including those that result from acne, and there are several types there or ones that come from trauma, burns, or previous surgery. They all share one thing in common - some insult has caused the skin to deposit collagen in a disorganized way leading to the scar appearance.

Two particular scars deserve their own mention, "hypertrophic scars" and "keloids." Both of these are the result of abnormal collagen deposition, but the process has gone haywire. In the case of hypertrophic scars, the lesion or scar looks like a high mountain, but it remains within the borders of the original injury. In the case of a keloid, the scar can grow outside of the original borders. Color changes may also be common. As you can see, it is already getting quite complicated.

So, the best thing for you is to get your scar assessed by someone with a lot of experience dealing with this kind of problem. Depending on the findings, several treatment modalities may be employed...these can range from some peels, laser, something called subcision, where the scar's attachments are released, hyaluronic acid fillers which may elevate a depressed scar, or in extreme cases a surgical revision. It is rarely possible to eliminate a scar, but significant improvements in their appearance can be achieved.

Hi

I'm very sorry to hear about your daughter's burn injury. I hope that she was able to receive the necessary care in a timely fashion and that she is now well.

The marks or scars left over from such an occurrence can vary widely in their appearance, shape, depth, color, and amount of space on the body that is impacted. The treatments will vary greatly depending on the exact situation but may involve a series of injections of a steroid called Triamcinolone to flatten out ridgy or elevated scars, a series of peels to try to improve the texture or color of the scar, laser or another energy-based resurfacing to try to blend the scars into their surrounding tissues, or even surgery to reconstruct the area and use different skin substitutes of skin tissue from elsewhere in the body. I think it best that you see a board-certified doctor with lots of experience treating scars in your area in order to receive the best care possible.

Hello and thank you for your question. You state in your question that your son has a tendency to develop blood clots. I would strongly encourage you to follow up with a physician specialized in Hematology or Vascular Surgery. Best of luck.

Hello and thank you for your question. You state in your question that you’re unhappy with the shape or contour of your hips and you wonder if anything can be done about it surgically.
There are indeed many options for sculpting this area, both surgical (liposuction and/or autologous fat transfer - this is whereby your own fat is used to fill and contour certain areas) and nonsurgical (Coolsculpt whereby the fat is frozen or Radiofrequency technology whereby the energy delivered breaks down and eliminates stubborn fat pockets).

I would recommend you seek out a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area, preferably someone with lots of body sculpting experience, to get a good assessment and discuss your options.

Good luck.

Hello and thank you for your question. And I am sorry about your accident. You ask if knee surgery, in general, is a safe procedure and whether there may be any long-term sequelae. As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I am not by any means an expert on knee surgery. I recommend you seek out a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, preferably someone who does a lot of knee surgery, to direct your question to.


Good luck.

Hello and thank you for your question. You state in your question that you are considering receiving a treatment of Botox, but you are wondering about the potential side effects of such treatment.

Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a naturally occurring molecule that can reduce muscle activity in the area that it is injected. As a result of the decrease in muscle tone, the wrinkles that usually form with our strong expression are temporarily eliminated. It has proven to be a safe and efficient treatment for reducing wrinkles even with long-term use. The important things to be careful about are:


1. Ensure you are receiving your treatment from someone well trained. Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists usually have the most experience administering this treatment
2. Ensure that you are receiving your botox injections in the context of a comprehensive anti-aging plan - that means a good moisturizer, a good anti-wrinkle cream, and a schedule for the injections.
3. Depending on the depth of your wrinkles, you may need to have the injections repeated every 6-9 months.
4. Several studies have shown that although the lines do recur in the short-term as the Botox wears off, in the long-term you can maintain a noticeable reduction in the depth of wrinkles.
5. Potential side effects include droopy eyelid (often the result of poor injection technique, asymmetric results, or mild irritation at the site of injection).
6. If you do not like the idea of repeated injections, then you can discuss longer-term options such as plasma helium resurfacing or CO2 laser resurfacing depending on your skin type.

Good luck.

Hello and thank you for your question. You state in your question that you just gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy - congratulations! And that you have developed stretchmarks around your abdomen, hips, and back. You wonder what can be done.


Stretch marks, also known as striae distensae, result from the stretching of the skin that occurs as a result of the weight gain in pregnancy. Your beautiful baby boy was definitely on the bigger side, so this probably contributed to the stretch marks.


There are several options you can consider:


1. Combination therapy utilizing injections of a gas called carbon dioxide (Carboxytherapy) along with injections of a mesotherapy specifically formulated for stretch marks (I prefer RRS Strimatrix) followed by microneedling. This treatment is almost guaranteed to significantly reduce the stretchmarks but will require 6-8 sessions spaced about 1 month apart.
2. Another option is to utilize laser resurfacing or Infini (microneedling + radiofrequency technology) to reduce them.
3. Both options work very well but I prefer the first one because I have found the results to be slightly better.

Good luck.