Dallas Surgical Arts

As we age, our skin changes with us. We stop making as much collagen as we did in our younger years, and the skin on our faces begins to look loose and sunken. But what if there was a natural way to increase the fullness of your face without using synthetic fillers or getting a face-lift or other complicated surgical procedure? The good news is that there is such a procedure, and it’s called fat transfer augmentation.

Fat transfer augmentation is a procedure in which fat is taken from elsewhere in the body (usually the thigh or abdomen) from a liposuction needle called a cannula. The fat is then transferred into the area you wish to be treated on the face, giving the face a fuller, more youthful appearance.

There are many benefits to undergoing a fat transfer augmentation. The first is you get a little bit of liposuction as part of the procedure. The other main benefit is that because the fat transfer augmentation uses your own body fat, it is more likely to stay put in your face because it is already a part of your body. This means fat transferred to your face won’t be rejected and should not cause any adverse reaction once injected back into the body.

Fat transfer augmentation is an outpatient procedure that only takes a short time to perform. Most patients are able to return to their daily life within a few days of the procedure. Patients should see immediate results, with improvement over the next few months as the face continues to heal. Any injection sites on the face generally heal up within several days of the procedure.

You may have heard that fat transfer augmentation yielded unpredictable results in the past, but those days are gone thanks to a practitioner named Dr. Sydney R. Coleman. Coleman was able to isolate individual fat cells, harvest them, and then remove damaged fat cells from the harvested cells. He then found that by injecting the fat back into several layers of facial tissue, the fat would benefit from the blood flow and nutrients in each layer of skin. This helps keep the fat alive, and your face looking fuller, longer. Dr. Sanovich is proud to use Coleman’s method on his patients for beautiful, lasting results.

To learn more about fat transfer augmentation, please contact Dr. Sanovich’s office at 972-776-4888.

There’s something different about your friend. She seems happier, more confident, and her face looks a little different than you remember. It may not seem obvious at first, but when you realize she’s had some “work” done, it’s hard not to notice.

Cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures are increasing in popularity year after year, and not just among older people, but among millennials and baby boomers, too. So, what can you do if you notice someone close to you has had a procedure? Do you address it? Wait for them to tell you? Here’s how to handle (and not handle!) addressing the subtle and not-so-subtle changes of cosmetic procedures.

Wow, You Look Great!

Whatever you do, don’t ask anyone you suspect has had a cosmetic procedure: “Have you had work done?” This is an invasive question about a personal medical decision and may make the person you are speaking to defensive or insecure. Instead of asking if they’ve had work done, why not tell them something like, “Wow, you look great.” This not only makes them feel good, but it also opens the door for them to tell you why they look so great.

You Look So Natural

One of the highest compliments you can pay a cosmetic surgery patient (and their surgeon!) is that they look natural or like themselves – only better. Be wary of saying things like “you look exactly the same,” because obviously they want to look a little bit different – otherwise they wouldn’t have had surgery!

Who Is Your Surgeon?

“Who is your surgeon?” is a perfectly acceptable question, especially if you are looking to have a cosmetic procedure done on yourself. By asking for a referral, you also can circumvent awkward conversations about how much money your friend’s procedure costs, because you can schedule your own consultation and find out for yourself. Dr. Sanovich loves word-of-mouth referrals, so please feel free to share his name with your friends and family!

Was It Affordable?

If you really are concerned about cost, don’t bluntly ask your friend what they paid. Instead, phrase your question as, “Was it affordable?” This will allow your friend to simply answer yes or no, or to tell you the total cost or even a ballpark range. This allows her or him to control the information without putting them on the spot.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanovich, please call 972-776-4888.

When you think about the benefits of cosmetic surgery, you probably think of the improvement to your appearance as the No. 1 reason to go ahead with a procedure. But what you may not realize is that cosmetic surgery doesn’t just improve your appearance, it can improve your overall health, too. Here are some top ways you may not have realized that cosmetic surgery can help you have a healthier life!

It Can Improve Mental Health

If you suffer from low self-esteem due to unhappiness with your appearance, improving your appearance can naturally improve your self-esteem. It can also help reduce stress or anxiety about your appearance. In fact, according to Psychology Today, plastic surgery can help alleviate depression, anxiety, social phobia and even body dysmorphia.

It Can Improve Breathing

Rhinoplasty, or a “nose job,” can help improve your breathing by improving a collapsed nasal passage that may cave in when you breathe. You can also have a deviated septum corrected during a rhinoplasty procedure. Straightening a deviated septum can also improve your breathing.

It Can Improve Vision

A blepharoplasty from Dr. Sanovich can create a fresh, well-rested look. It can also remove heavy or hooded eyelids. Similarly, a brow-lift can lift the eyebrows and help you look less tired, but it can also improve your eyesight by improving your range of vision.

Cosmetic surgery can also increase moisture in the eyes.

It Can Repair Torn Earlobes

A lobuloplasty, or earlobe repair surgery, can not only improve the appearance of the ear, but can also repair stretching, tears and drooping of the ear caused by heavy earring wear.

It Can Repair Skin Damage

Procedures like laser skin rejuvenation create a more youthful, healthy glow to skin, making you look younger. But it can also improve your skin health by removing everything from acne & trauma scars to sun damage. 

It Can Remove Cancer

Skin lesion removal can not only approve the appearance of the face, but can also remove lesions that are cancerous or in danger of becoming cancerous. Dr. Sanovich has the expertise to remove skin lesions with minimal scarring, making your skin healthier and more youthful looking.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sanovich, please call 972-776-4888.

Congratulations! You’ve just had a cosmetic procedure with Dr. Sanovich. Now is the time to heal and enjoy your newly refreshed appearance. Often when someone undergoes a cosmetic procedure (surgical or not), it can bring up a lot of questions from friends and loved ones. Whether you are worried about how to address the questioning, or simply want to circumvent any questioning by bringing it up yourself, here are some ideas to start your dialogue.

‘Have You Had Work Done?’

This question in itself is invasive and, depending on who is asking, inappropriate, but that doesn’t stop people from asking it. Of course you are always free to ignore the question or tell the person asking that it’s none of their business, but if you want to answer it, you can say, “Yes, and I’m so happy I did” Then leave it at that.

‘What Kind of Work Did You Have Done?’

Another common question you may be asked is more specifically about the procedures you chose. This can be from well-meaning friends who are simply interested in getting their own cosmetic procedures, or it could be for other reasons. Again, you are free to decline to answer, or you can say something like, “I had a face-lift so I could look as young on the outside as I feel on the inside.”

‘Who Is Your Surgeon?’

Dr. Sanovich loves referrals, so if someone asks who performed your facial plastic surgery, he’d be honored if you shared his name.

‘Why Did You Change Your Face?’

This question may be more common among children who are simply curious about your new look. In the case of a child, try not to feel hurt or offended, as they likely did not mean any harm by asking. That being said, the answer for an adult or a child can be roughly the same. Simply say, “I wanted to look more youthful and refreshed, and I’m pleased with the results.” This lets the person questioning know you weren’t trying to change your identity – and that you are happy with your results. If they think you are happy they will be less likely to make negative comments about your new look.

‘How Much Did It Cost?’

Again, this question could simply be motivated by a well-meaning friend looking to have a procedure of his or her own. Conversations about money are never easy, but there are plenty of tactful ways to handle them. For example, you could say, “It was very friendly for my budget.” You can also give them a ballpark figure, or better yet encourage them to contact Dr. Sanovich for a free consultation and remind them that the cost will vary depending on what procedures they choose to have done.

To schedule a consultation, or to refer a friend to Dr. Sanovich, please call 972-776-4888.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) has released its annual member survey results identifying the biggest trends in facial plastic surgery for 2018.

Preventative procedures reigned supreme in 2018, coining the name “pre-juvenation,” a combination of preventative and rejuvenation. This term refers to younger patients who don’t necessarily need facial rejuvenation and choose to undergo invasive and non-invasive facial cosmetic surgery procedures as a way to help combat the signs of aging before they begin. In fact, members surveyed noticed a 72 percent uptick in non-invasive facial cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers among the under-30 set, and a 24 percent increase in surgical procedures among the same demographic.

Dr. Randy Sanovich is a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon practicing in Dallas, Texas. He has noticed an increase in traffic among millennials and xennials in his own practice.

“Younger people know more today about how to prevent the signs of aging than ever before,” says Sanovich. “From protecting their skin from sun damage to the latest in facial cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments, they have learned how to help freeze the hands of time.”

Another trend that appeared frequently in the AAFPRS survey? Rhinoplasy, or “nose jobs,” which are consistently the No. 1 facial cosmetic surgery procedure year after year. Other top performers were blepharoplasties (eyelid-lifts) and revision plastic surgery, classified as revisions to prior procedures on the face. In fact, revision plastic surgeries surged in 2018, doubling in popularity over 2017.

“Patients know what they want, and they’ll undergo a second or third procedure to get it,” Sanovich says. “Nobody should have to settle for results they’re not happy with.”

Finally, a big trend Sanovich says has markedly changed since prior generations is the push for more natural-looking results.

“Patients want to look like themselves, only better,” he says.

Maybe that’s why non-invasive procedures like Botox and fillers are up among the younger set – and other generations too. In fact, members report that four out of five procedures were non-invasive injectable procedures like Botox, Dysport, Restylane and Juvaderm, just to name a few.

“When done correctly, cosmetic injectables and fillers look very natural and can make minor adjustments to the face without being invasive,” Sanovich says.

Sanovich, for one, offers injectables in his Dallas clinic, with his own special technique, which offers beautiful results with less discomfort and needle marks on the skin.

“I have found that by injecting these products into multiple layers of the skin, you can avoid bursting blood vessels, creating a much more comfortable patient experience,” he says. “It really makes the whole experience more pleasant and the results much more natural in appearance.”

If you have type 2 diabetes, a new study has a dire warning for you. You could be at greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea, according to a study from the department of health care management at the University of Surrey in Surrey, United Kingdom. After studying data from 1.2 million adults registered in the Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre network, the researchers found that patients who were registered as having type 2 diabetes and obesity had the highest rate of obstructive sleep apnea of any of the groups, which included those who were underweight, average or healthy weight, overweight, and obese.

Dr. Randy Sanovich of Dallas treats patients with obstructive sleep apnea in his practice. He says the data from this new study is important, but not surprising.

“We already know that obesity increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, and we know that it also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes,” he says.

According to Sanovich, however, the most disturbing data collected in the study was the number of people who were undiagnosed.

That’s because obstructive sleep apnea is a silent killer. Statistics show that persons with obstructive sleep apnea are not only more likely to have a heart attack, but also have two to three times higher risk of having a stroke and three times higher risk of premature mortality than those without obstructive sleep apnea.

According to Sanovich, however, the most disturbing data collected in the study was the number of people who were undiagnosed.

“The study says that nearly 5 percent of type 2 diabetics may have sleep apnea – may have. So these are people who could have sleep apnea and not even know it, making it impossible to treat it,” he says.

Sleep apnea is also difficult to diagnose. Sanovich says many patients only get checked for the condition at the urging of family or spouses who notice troubling symptoms while their loved one is sleeping.

“They hear the snoring or the stopping and starting of breathing and naturally they become concerned and urge the patient to see a doctor,” he says.

But what about those who don’t have a partner or family member to notice their sleep apnea symptoms?

“Of course the most important things you can do are to maintain a healthy body weight and stop smoking if you smoke,” he says. “But if you wake feeling unrested or sluggish, or if you know you wake frequently throughout the night – especially if you are diabetic or obese – talk to your doctor.”

For the more than 10 million Americans suffering from the often-debilitating condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder, relief can’t come fast enough.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (also known as TMJ disorder, TMJD or simply TMJ) is a condition that occurs when the jaw’s temporomandibular joint becomes misaligned with the rest of the jaw. This can occur due to genetics or injury but has the same painful symptoms no matter the cause. People with TMJ disorder often report a popping or clicking sound when opening or closing their jaw, in addition to jaw pain and stiffness; difficulty opening and closing their mouth; head, neck and back aches; and even tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Temporomandibular joint disorder affects more women than men. Among those women, most are in their childbearing years.

While some TMJD sufferers can find relief with custom orthotics, others have had more enduring success with surgical procedures such as arthrocentesis, arthroscopy or joint-replacement surgery. For those patients, surgery is a last resort – a final attempt at relief that is only an option after all other options have failed.

But a new procedure could someday help patients suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, and it’s taking a new approach at healing.

Conducted at the University of California Irvine and the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, a new study has successfully healed the temporomandibular joint of a pig with the biologically compatible rib tissue of another animal. The surgery is the first of its kind to be used on the temporomandibular joint, and researchers are optimistic they can replicate the results in humans.

Dr. Randy Sanovich is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Dallas, Texas. He says the reason the tissue transplant was so successful was likely due to the biological material used in the procedure.

“When you use biologically compatible material, it’s not only more likely to be accepted by the body, but if it’s rejected by the body it is simply reabsorbed with no negative side effects,” Sanovich says.

Temporomandibular joint surgery of this kind has had issues in the past, when previous iterations of the procedure used a Teflon prosthetic that degraded over time. Because the Teflon was not biological, it could not be absorbed by the body, and fragments of Teflon found their way into the brains of many of the patients who received the implants. Though Teflon is no longer used for TMJ joint replacement, other prosthetics are currently utilized for this purpose and, according to Sanovich, are totally safe. Still, as safe and effective as joint replacement is, a biological replacement would no doubt be a welcome option for some patients.

“If this procedure can someday be replicated in human subjects, it could be the end of prosthetic joint surgery, not just for the temporomandibular joint, but for many other joints in the body too. It will be interesting to see what transpires with this in the coming years.”

With cosmetic surgery procedures increasing in popularity year after year and many procedures that were once considered taboo becoming more and more commonplace, many surgeons are issuing cautions to patients seeking procedures abroad. Recent articles have highlighted the dangers of foreign “cosmetic surgery vacations” with practitioners that may or may not be trained in the procedures they offer. Here’s why when it comes to cosmetic surgery, it’s better to stay home.

Dr. Randy Sanovich is a maxillofacial and facial cosmetic surgeon operating in Dallas, Texas. He performs many procedures dealing with the face and neck.

“The No. 1 reason to choose a United States-based doctor is board certification,” says Sanovich.

Board certification is a peer-reviewed process in which surgeons and other doctors must undergo rigorous testing and training. They must also pass a test and maintain their board certification by receiving annual training and testing to keep up on the latest techniques as well as prove they can still perform the old ones.

But while board certification is the gold standard for a doctor, some patients think simply having a license to practice is enough.

“Board certification ensures that your surgeon has the proper skills to perform the procedure you’re requesting,” says Sanovich. “It goes beyond just licensing.”

Though board certification is not required, it is an extra level of insurance for the patient. Unfortunately, some countries do not have such requirements, and many practitioners may not even be licensed at all. A recent case in the Dominican Republic left a patient dead after the patient underwent a procedure with an uncertified doctor. Cases like this have occurred in the United States as well with unlicensed, uncertified practitioners.

Another bonus to receiving your surgery stateside is the access it provides to your medical team.

“At my practice it is easy for patients to get a hold of someone following their surgery if they have any questions or concerns,” says Sanovich. “We treat our patients like family and we truly care as much about them before their procedure as we do after.”

But while you may still get the same support from some foreign doctors, it can be difficult to receive follow-up care.

“When you have your procedure done locally, you can come in for follow-ups without having to take an international flight,” Sanovich says. “That expense can really add up, especially if you want revisions.”

Finally, don’t discount the power of a great consultation.

“At a local practice you can meet with your surgeon as many times as you need prior to the surgery to make sure you’re on the same page. If my patients have questions or concerns prior to their procedure I am happy to take the time to answer them,” says Sanovich. “It benefits the surgeon as well because we get to know the patient as a person as well as a patient.”

An article in a popular fashion magazine recently posed the question, “Is this the end of the brow-lift?” It seems the procedure may be declining in popularity at some plastic surgery practices, but we certainly don’t believe that’s the case here. In fact, a brow-lift is one of the most effective ways to give yourself a more youthful appearance without undergoing a full face-lift. If you aren’t satisfied with the person staring back at you in the mirror and you’re not sure what procedure to choose, here’s what you should know when considering an eyebrow-lift from Dr. Sanovich.

Who Should Get a Brow-Lift?

The first thing you should think about when considering a brow-lift is if the procedure will address the issues you may be having with your appearance. The brow-lift is an excellent procedure for correcting a drooping or lowered eyebrow. A brow-lift can help “open up” the face and create the appearance of a wider, more alert eye.

What Causes the Brows to Sag?

Your eyebrows can droop or sag over time due to loss of collagen, heredity, sun exposure and more. It may begin as a deeply furrowed brow, creases at the “11’s” between your eyebrows or even as crow’s feet around your eyes. Often, these issues can be corrected with Botox or fillers, but in those cases where injectables are simply not enough and where the lower half of the face does not need any major modification, a brow-lift is an excellent option. That being said, the brow-lift can be and often is combined with other procedures on the rest of the face.

What Happens During a Brow-Lift?

Dr. Sanovich performs brow-lifts endoscopically. This means he uses a small telescope in a tiny incision in the forehead. This telescope helps him see and tighten up the sagging tissue in the forehead by moving it up between a quarter and three-eighths of an inch. This effectively eliminates the deep furrows and crow’s feet, and the incisions are stitched closed. In fact, the incisions are normally so small they are hidden by the hairline – and there’s no hair loss, either.

After your brow-lift you can expect minimal swelling and minimal discomfort. The brow-lift even leaves such minimal scarring that even men with receding hairlines will have almost zero visible scarring. Recovery time is fast, too, with most people returning to work within three to four days of their procedure.

To conclude, there are very few procedures that can accomplish the streamlined, youthful results of the brow-lift. So, to answer that magazine’s question, no, the brow-lift isn’t going anywhere but up!

Want to learn more about brow-lifts?” Call Dr. Sanovich at 972-776-4888.

Living with obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease can be stressful for anyone, but living with a combination of both can be an even bigger challenge. The combination can also be the source of clinical depression – especially for patients who have suffered a cardiac event such as a heart attack or stroke. But now, a new study from Flinders University has uncovered a way to treat both depression and obstructive sleep apnea simultaneously, and it could save lives.

Using data from the Sleep Apnea Cardiovascular Endpoints (SAVE) study, researchers at Flinders University in Bedford Park, Australia, uncovered a link between continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and depression. Examining the data of 2,687 patients who participated in the SAVE study, researchers noted that within 3.7 years following a cardiac event, patients who suffered from depression and who were treated with CPAP therapy for severe obstructive sleep apnea experienced a dramatic reduction in their depression symptoms.

Dr. Randy Sanovich treats sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea in his Dallas clinic. He believes this link is an important but not surprising connection.

“Continuous positive airway pressure therapy helps patients breathe at night by using air pressure to prop the airway open while the wearer sleeps,” he says. “This in turn allows the wearer to have a restful night’s sleep, which carries over into their day.”

According to Sanovich, this carry-over could be key to the alleviation of depression symptoms.

“The more rested you are, the easier it will be to go about your day,” he says. “It seems almost too simple, but the data doesn’t lie.”

Sanovich is right. A recent study found that those with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from frequent loss of jobs, lower wages and hourly wages instead of salaries. The study followed 261 patients with the average age of 41 and found that those with undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea were more likely to suffer “long-term negative effects on vocational functioning.”

“Lack of sleep can carry over into every aspect of daily life, including work and mental health,” says Sanovich. “That’s why it’s essential to get treatment for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.”

Though other means of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea were not studied in the Flinders University study, according to Sanovich, CPAP therapy is just one option for treating the condition. Sanovich’s clinic offers other solutions including everything from Genioglossus Advancement to Maxillary Mandibular Advancement.