Southwest Plastic Surgery

If you are creeping closer towards that dreaded mid-century birthday, fear not. There are more ways than ever to age gracefully and preserve your youthful appearance, but it requires due diligence and skin care. It is important to maintain a healthy mindset and of course, eating a healthy diet and exercising goes a long way to remain young, both in mind and body. However, the face has a way of revealing one’s age, since it is the most vulnerable to damage from the sun and other toxins that we have consumed over the course of a lifetime.

At The Med Spa at Southwest Plastic Surgery of El Paso, TX, we offer more ways than ever for women and men to continue looking younger than their true age. Many of our methods are simple, outpatient visits that can be done within our board-certified facility. Modern technology has offered more convenient, non-invasive measures of preserving youth, so now it truly is possible to look ten to twenty years younger than your actual age.

Here are 5 Secrets to Look 10 Years Younger:

1. Protect Your Skin: How often do we walk out of the door every day, forgetting to apply sunscreen? Even in the winter or on cloudy days, people forget that the UV rays are constantly “out there” and it is important to use a minimum of SPF 30 for protection. Our Med Spa Colorescience “Sunforgettable” series is a perfect solution and easy to remember to apply, since it can be used just like makeup.
2. Hydration: As mentioned earlier, a healthy lifestyle goes a long way to preserve your face and skin. Drink enough water – and not the flavored kind – and you will help to maintain your skin’s elasticity.
3. Rejuvenation: Try getting a chemical peel or microdermabrasion, which removes the dead skin cells from your face and helps it to appear radiant, smoother, softer and younger.
4. Keep up With Dental Care: Just as important as it is for your face to look good, having regular dental care can help you stay younger. There is a direct link between periodontal disease and the toxins it can emit throughout your body, so keep up with those teeth cleanings and make sure to get professional whitening at least once every decade.
5. Ongoing Maintenance: Southwest Plastic Surgery offers a number of fillers that can add volume to your skin, which also makes you look younger by filling in those unsightly fine lines and wrinkles that; may creep up on your face.

 

It may sound like common sense, but don’t wait until you turn 50 before applying proper strategies to preserve your age. The younger you are, the better your chances of starting a great routine early and living a longer life at the same time.  

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 13th, 2015 at 9:35 pm and is filed under Med Spa, Skin Treatments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

According to the latest statistics, at least 20% of all people who get tattoos regret the choice they made, and for a variety of reasons. Some regret it when they get rejected for a job they really wanted, or if they got denied entry into the military. Many branches of the military do not allow tattoos to be visible.

Other big regrets occur when people become parents or grandparents, especially when their tattoo that once seemed “cool” now lead to inquiries from children that they would otherwise prefer to bury under the rug. And then there are a few tattoo wearers who mistakenly etch the names of ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends on their skin, thinking the relationship will last forever.

For all of these regrets and more, the need for tattoo removal has become a popular alternative to living with the shame of a tattoo. In fact, the rise of tattoo removal services in the Southwest and other parts of the country has increased by 43% in the last five years. But now the rates might increase even more, due to the introduction of new technology available that will make tattoo removal an easy thing.

What is the easiest method of tattoo removal?

Residents of the Southwest can get PicoSure™ tattoo removal, which is a brand new, laser technology that makes it very easy and convenient to remove a tattoo. Whether small or large, the PicoSure™ advanced laser gives patients a flawless look that brings your skin back to its “pre-tattooed” condition, using rapid, pulsating energy waves that get down through the layers of skin. It doesn’t require any touching of the skin and is virtually painless, especially compared to the pain of getting a tattoo.

PicoSure™ is the latest technology offering tattoo removal for all colors in the least amount of treatments. Even if you have attempted tattoo removal with other lasers with little or no results, PicoSure™ tattoo removal can offer better clearance.

PicoSure™ tattoo removal is often recommended by tattoo artist to help in modifying present tattoos or helping in performing better cover-ups.

At Southwest Plastic Surgery in El Paso, we are pleased to bring this revolutionary new tattoo removal service to our MedSpa side of cosmetic enhancements. Most patients will require multiple sessions to get the full effect of PicoSure™ laser removal, but the secret is out and now more people than ever are coming to El Paso to get old, unsightly or undesirable tattoos plucked off their bodies.

If you are interested in removing a tattoo in Texas or New Mexico, schedule a consultation or PicoSure™ consultation with Southwest Plastic Surgery today.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 29th, 2015 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

We have Hollywood starlets like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian to thank for the fastest growing cosmetic procedure of our time, which is the butt augmentation. What was once a characteristic women tried to hide under clothing is now something they want to make bigger or more shapely. Having an ample booty gives women a more curvaceous, voluptuous appearance, although when amplified, it may require a new wardrobe to accommodate the larger size backside.

The ASAPS – American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery stated that the number of women who received butt augmentations last year had grown by 86% – which is in large part attributed to the major stars that are setting the trend.

There are several methods of butt augmentation that are popular, with one being the “Brazilian Butt Lift” which is done through fat injections. Also known as BBL, Dr. Agullo of Southwest Plastic Surgery in El Paso takes the excess fat stores from a patient’s thighs, waistline or hips and redistributes it to the buttocks. It not only makes the butt appear fuller and rounder, but also gives the patient a round, firm looking derriere.

Some patients opt for other types of butt procedures, such as a butt augmentation with implants, which is reserved mostly for patients who do not have enough fat stores from other body parts to do the fat transfer.

Dr. Agullo recommends everyone to avoid any type of other injections to the buttock. There have been some serious big booty mishaps in the news recently, with two women in New York dying from getting silicone injections done. Alejandra Guzman and others have had serious complications from cement or PMNA injections. Dr. Agullo has reconstructed over twenty patients with mineral oil or “collagen” injections. There is no other product, other than your fat, which should be injected into te buttocks.

Dr. Frank Agullo is a board certified plastic surgeon in Texas and New Mexico and performs hundreds of cosmetic enhancements and surgical procedures each year. He has won numerous awards, including Rising Star SuperDoctor of 2012, as well as holding the title of Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health sciences Center and University of Texas in El Paso. Dr. Agullo is one of the few buttock experts offering the full array of buttock procedures in the Southwest.

 

Those considering butt augmentations or butt lifts should contact Dr. Agullo at Southwest Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation. You can even see “after” photos of what your potential new butt will look like through a remarkable technology called the 3D Vectra Imaging System. Contact the office at 915-590-7900 today.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2015 at 7:30 pm and is filed under Brazilian Butt Lift, Butt Lift, Buttock Augmentation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

When you prepare for plastic surgery, it can be both exciting and nerve wracking. Having anxiety is perfectly natural, and Dr. Agullo and his kind staff do our best to put your mind at ease about all of the preparations to ensure smooth sailing and successful healing. However, part of being prepared for your big day is to understand everything fully, which can ultimately ease your worries and help to make the process go as planned.

Because you are so focused on the procedure itself, you may overlook the other aspects of plastic surgery that require full knowledge and understanding. One of those big things is anesthesia. There are three types of anesthesia, and they are both very different. General anesthesia is necessary for procedures that require a patient to be “sleeping”. For example, if you are getting a tummy tuck, which is considered more major than liposuction, most patients would receive general anesthesia.

A second type is local anesthesia, which literally isolates the specific area of the cosmetic procedure. It is also called “regional” anesthesia or AWAKE procedure. A lot of plastic surgery procedures can be done with local anesthesia, which is safer because it does not put the patient to sleep. As another example, if you are just getting a chin liposuction or blepharoplasty (upper eyelid) correction, then the area can be localized with local anesthesia. It numbs or blocks the pain to a specific body part in which the anesthesia has been applied, rather than being completely asleep.

The third type is conscious sedation. Think of it as a happy medium. You have the advantage of local anesthesia combined with sedation, but your body continues to breathe on its own. You are relaxed, will likely not remember anything, and have a decreased risk of aesthetic complications.

With local anesthesia, you will be awake and remember everything, although you may not feel anything in that part of your body until the anesthesia wears off. However, with general anesthesia, it will require longer recovery time and you cannot eat or drink anything on the day of (and evening before) your surgery.

You must understand that there are many more risks with general anesthesia. Local anesthesia poses little to no risk, unless you happen to get an allergic reaction, which is extremely rare. While it is important to understand this, you should also know that such incidents are very rare. Today’s monitoring equipment and equipment makes it possible for you to receive top quality care while you are being operated on. Make sure whomever you choose to do your surgery with also partners with a top, reputable anesthesiologist.

Dr. Frank Agullo has a hand picked anesthesia group to give his patients peace of mind that their surgery will go smoothly. Whenever possible, he will recommend local anesthesia if your cosmetic procedure is not something that requires a long time to complete. A happy medium for most procedures is the combination of local anesthesia with sedation, known as conscious sedation. Dr. Agullo particularly likes this because his patients are comfortable, remember very little or nothing at all, and you can get back to your day with less recovery time, less risk and less expense. Ask him your questions about anesthesia prior to any plastic surgery operation.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 25th, 2015 at 8:56 pm and is filed under Anesthesia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Men go through great lengths to achieve those coveted six pack abs like models, but for many men who want flat abs and lack the time or ability to achieve them naturally through diet and exercise, are there any alternatives?  The answer is, yes, sort of.

Liposuction for men in Southwest Texas is available at Southwest Plastic Surgery of El Paso, and a growing number of men are forgoing the more traditional methods of rigorous diet and exercise to get a nip, tuck and liposuction done to achieve flatter abdominals. Is this fair? It all depends on how you look at it.

Let’s take a look at the strict dedication and time commitment that is required for a man to get six-pack abs. For some, even an hour of more at the gym each day would still never cut it, not to mention the very rigid diet that even the best bodybuilders have a hard time sticking to.

Getting a little help from a plastic surgeon is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for men who are only a little overweight and not obese. Men who get liposuction from a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Agullo can get stubborn ab fat, love handles and beer bellies whittled down and the fat can even be redistributed to other parts of the body which might need extra definition, such as the butt or chest. It takes a very talented plastic surgeon to achieve the sculpted look of perfectly defined pecks (pectoral, chest), and even men with the best of intentions may not be able to do it the old-fashioned way.

However, men’s liposuction is not always a fit for every man. A strong male candidate must have good skin tone and elasticity, with only moderate body fat. Men who have too much fat will not see a big change in the look of their abdomen, except for a decrease in the size. When there is too much loose skin, this will not give a man the sculpted look he seeks. Another surgery would be required to remove the sagging or baggy skin that is leftover, and even then, much work would be necessary in order to bring that tummy down to a desired fit.

Also it is important for men to allow enough time to recover and not expect to jump up off the surgery table and head out to the beach. After any surgery, Dr. Agullo recommends not exposing any incisions to UV rays for at least six months, and there are sensitive parts that may feel tender for a few weeks post-operative surgery.

Men who want great results must have reasonable expectations when it comes to fixing their biggest problem area, which is often the abs, belly, tummy, gut or stomach area, where men are prone to carry the most body fat. If you are wondering if you are a good candidate for men’s abdominoplasty in El Paso, contact Dr. Frank Agullo of Southwest Plastic Surgery and come for a visit and assessment.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 at 7:54 pm and is filed under Liposuction, Procedures for Men. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

It’s what is on the inside that counts, or so the saying goes. However, a new study done by the Georgetown University School of Medicine suggests that the outside matters too, at least in how strangers may perceive you.  

Depending on your own point of view, a facelift procedure can definitely do wonders to improve your appearance and self-esteem, but most people go through facial surgery for themselves, rather than because of someone else. There comes a certain age when people start noticing little details or lines and wrinkles popping up. Facelifts can include tightening, firming and can also include complementary prcedures such as eye lift, fat injections and brow lift.

However, if you are considering the advantages of whether or not to get a facelift, these new insights may interest you. The professors showed both preoperative and postoperative facelift photos to people who had never seen thirty women who were part of the facelift study, as well as surveying another one hundred seventy people. The strangers were asked simple questions about whether or not the women in the photos seemed likeable, trustworthy, and attractive – or contrarily – whether they seemed like risk-takers, aggressive, extroverted, etc. None of the respondents saw the same women in both the before and after photos, just to make the study more reliable and fair. Hence, no one interviewed was told whether or not any plastic surgery had been done to the women in the photographs.

The results were surprising! There were four specific characteristics pointed out by the reviewers. Femininity, attractiveness, social aptitude and likeability. A fifth runner-up trait mentioned by several respondents was trustworthiness. Based on these conclusions, the professors pointed out that having a lower eye lift and facelift procedure were the two perceived as most favorable; with the lower eyelift garnering the most.

Trying to determine why is anyone’s best guess, but perhaps people who carry more “serious” lines on their face may look tired, angry or unhappy simply because of the repeated expressive contours.

So, if there is anything we can take away from this interesting study, it is just another point that getting a facelift in El Paso, TX might make you seem more likeable, attractive, and trustworthy. Why not give it a chance? Come talk to Dr. Agullo today and get a free consultation to discuss whether a facelift plastic surgery is right for you!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2015 at 8:18 pm and is filed under Facelift. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Pectoral Implants for Men

Have you ever wished that you could have a muscular chest with great pecs but without having to do thousands of push-ups? Or have you slaved away to do those push-ups and still have yet to see the fruits of your labors? Having a ripped chest with strong pectoral muscles is an important physical mark for all men. A muscular, broad chest gives a man a more youthful and desirable physique, making him look like a gym-loving bodybuilder even if he hates to exercise. But, while only some men can achieve a muscular chest through intense exercising, any man can achieve this look by getting pectoral implants. And, since risks and complications associated with chest implants are quite rare, more and more men today are getting them to enhance their chest appearance.

Masterfully Shaping Your Chest

Have you tried careful dieting and exercise regimes with intense weight lifting, yet you’ve been unable to achieve that firm, cut bodybuilder’s chest? Or do you want to have that appearance without having to go through the exhausting work to get it? Enter pectoral implants. Pectoral implants for men masterfully shapes a man’s chest without him having to try to make it happen through body-breaking weight-lifting regimens or steroid abuse.

As a chest implant, pectoral implants for men are indeed similar to breast implants for women. But though the concept is similar, the implants themselves are quite different. Women’s breast implants are typically meant to create the appearance and feel of soft breast tissue, while men’s pectoral implants are solid and durable silicone to create a stiff muscular feel. The result is that rock hard muscular looking chest that makes you look and feel like the sexiest man in the world.

Combination Procedures for Even More Masculine Shaping

While masterfully inserted pectoral implants will give your chest a naturally firm and masculine look, combining other plastic surgery procedures can do even more. At Southwest Plastic Surgery, we often perform additional procedures in conjunction with chest implants, such as liposuction. Through pectoral etching, our doctors help to further define the chest by removing excess fat and creating clear chest lines and shapes. Some men also have abdominal liposuction done to minimize the stomach area while enhancing the chest.

If you have any questions regarding pectoral implants, we encourage you to call Southwest Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.  While discussing results, cost, recovery, and preparation, consider most of all the benefits of getting chest implants. The great boosts to confidence and physique can be yours by contacting Southwest Plastic Surgery Practice today at our El Paso, TX office by calling (915) 590-7900 or our Las Cruces, New Mexico office by calling (575) 520 5041. For your convenience, you may also fill out our online contact form for more information. for more information.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2015 at 12:02 am and is filed under Liposuction, Pectoral Implants for Men. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Now, more than ever, more men are getting cosmetic procedures in El Paso and in other places around the country. Although women still rule the plastic surgery industry, statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) points to a growing number of men who are no longer content to let the aging process happen naturally. Over a million men in 2013 underwent cosmetic surgeries, and over the course of fifteen years, the tally of men receiving cosmetic enhancements has soared by 273% since the late nineties.

Surprisingly, it is not just older men who are opting for cosmetic surgery. Even younger men who want to refresh their appearance or who are unsatisfied with wrinkles, under-eye baggage or double chins are no longer hiding their need for correction.

What kind of plastic surgery procedures are most popular among men?

At Dr. Frank Agullo’s plastic surgery center in El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM, many men are choosing procedures at The Med Spa at Southwest Plastic Surgery. Their popularity may be attributed to the ease and convenience of many new treatments that have become available to men, such as chemical peels, skin laser resurfacing, injectables like Botox, Radiesse, Belotero Balance or Xeomin; as well as LED therapy, Kybella and more to reverse the appearance of aging on their faces. These were once dominated by women in the cosmetic marketplace, and still are, but the men are also “manning” up to the opportunity of cosmetic treatments that are non-invasive and very effective.

Another thing that makes these cosmetic procedures more appealing for men is the fact they can make an appointment at Dr. Agullo’s practice, come in for an hour treatment and then return to their job or social obligations shortly thereafter, without a long lag time for healing and recovery. It is almost as easy for men to get a cosmetic treatment as it is to go to the dentist for a filling.

More men are also getting facelifts than ever, although these are more time consuming than the MedSpa services. Trends show that many of today’s modern males care more about getting a facelift than they do about buying a hot rod or some other mid-life splurge!

Beware of Beer, Guys

Other popular procedures for men in the Southwest region are liposuction or correction of chest irregularities. Fox News recently released a story about the chemical effects of beer hops giving men those undesirable “Man Boobs”, particularly with long-time beer drinkers. Ale beers were found to be a major culprit of extra fatty tissue in the male chest (breast); primarily because of the high levels of plant estrogen found in the hop plant used to make the beer.

Long term beer drinkers may see breasts developing, as well as premature aging, beer bellies and even hair loss. All of these can be corrected with liposuction, hair loss treatments such as PRP or hair transplants, as well as “chest” reductions.

 

There is no question that plastic surgery procedures for men are in demand. If you are a man who is considering a facelift, plastic surgery, liposuction or cosmetic procedures of any kind, contact Southwest Plastic Surgery to talk to Dr. Frank Agullo about your concerns. The consultation is completely confidential and he can show you the before and after images through an innovative 3D Vectra system.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2015 at 7:29 pm and is filed under Hair Transplant, Liposuction, Med Spa, Procedures for Men. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

In the summer, people become more self-conscious about their appearance. Skimpier clothing and sunny days naturally highlight flaws in your skin, as well as bringing those fine lines, freckles or wrinkles out into the open. Yet, even if you are diligent about your skin care regiment and exercise, you may feel as though some areas of your face and body need a little extra tightening or polishing.

The MedSpa services at Southwest Plastic Surgery of El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM are designed to address that. No matter the season, we can help you correct many cosmetic issues that bother you, and without invasive surgery. The MedSpa services are all non-invasive, and we have a growing list of opportunities from chemical peels, injectables, LED therapy, Ultherapy, BTL Vanquish for rapid fat loss removal, and many more. Whether you want to focus on a comprehensive body makeover, or just a specific body part, we can zoom in on the areas you most want to improve.

As surprising as it may be, Southwest Plastic Surgery also offers an exciting collection of makeup, sunscreen, skin care products, and anti-aging products. You can come to us for any dermatology services in the Southwest, as well as cosmetic enhancements.

Here are some surprising MedSpa services that many people do not realize we offer, but that we welcome you to look into:

• Facial Treatments, such as:
  • Belotero Balance
  • Injectables: Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm
  • Microneedling
  • Laser
  • Kybella
  • Ultherapy
• Back and Chest Facial
• Post-Surgical Massage
• Dermaglow LED Therapy
• BTL Vanquish
• PicoSure Tattoo Removal
• Professional Grade Makeup and Skin Care/Sunscreen
• … Plus a Growing List!

Most of all, we remain cutting edge and often are one of the first in the entire region to introduce new technologies and services as they become available. When you hear about a Hollywood technique, chances are, Southwest Plastic Surgery will be one of the first to offer it to people in Texas and New Mexico. Come talk to us about many non-invasive MedSpa procedures to help you look and feel better, today!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2015 at 6:39 pm and is filed under Med Spa. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

In the summer, the hot sun can be devastating to skin. This is the time of year when more lines and wrinkles seem to appear, as well as freckles and sun spots. The sun ages your skin, and if you are proactive about your skin care routine, you can at least delay the aging process a little longer.

Southwest Plastic Surgery of El Paso and Las Cruces does have high end skin care products that can help you combat the damage, such as the high quality Colorescience Sunscreens that are designed for your face. However, what can you do to bring your face to its optimal condition after the damage has been done?

We have a number of non-invasive cosmetic procedures to help bring your face back to a “new-like” condition.

These are 7 Ways You Can Rejuvenate Your Face This Summer (or any time of year, for that matter!)…

1. Injectables: Fillers can be used to restore volume or fill in the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, brow area, laugh lines and other visible areas of your face. We have a number of popular Juvederm Ultra fillers, Botox, Belotero Balance, Radiesse and Xeomin that the surgeon will precisely place in the areas of desired volume.
2. Ultherapy: For those who want the look of a facelift, yet without spending the time that is required to recover from a facelift surgery, the Ultherapy is a groundbreaking procedure that stimulates collagen production while progressively tightening, lifting and improving the skin tone. It works by pulsating ultrasound and has been hailed as the “Uplift” of facelifts within the cosmetic industry.
3. Chemical Peels: Another more traditional method of treating aging skin is through a chemical peel. Through this treatment, the outermost layer of skin is peeled to reveal a new, renewed layer underneath. This helps patients who have hyper-pigmented skin, or fine lines, dull skin, scars or severe acne redness and scarring. Patients can choose a light peel or a deep peel, although the latter requires longer healing time and it is recommended to stay out of the sun for some time after.
4. Microdermabrasion: Much like the chemical peel, microdermabrasion removes the dull, top layer of skin by literally scraping away the dead skin cells. It stimulates new collagen production to give you healthier, smoother skin underneath.
5. Kybella: This new procedure is one of the most recently added to Southwest Plastic Surgery’s MedSpa services. It specifically targets the “double chin” or turkey neck and remove the extra submental fat on your chin; literally melting the fat away. Kybella is safe and FDA approved as an injection specifically for the chin fat, which once removed, can help you look years younger. Southwest Plastic Surgery is one of the first to offer Kybella in El Paso and Kybella in Las Cruces.
6. Dermaglow LED Therapy: Ever since we introduced LED therapy to Southwest Plastic Surgery, the results seen by our patients have been outstanding. It uses soft light to remove or eliminate many skin discolorations or conditions, such as facial blemishes, hyper-pigmentation, acne scars, sun spots and more. The intense, multi-frequency light is a comfortable alternative for people who do not want to go through facelift surgery.
7. Sciton Skin Laser Treatments: The Sciton laser is the best in the industry, at least for today. It has an ability to treat a multitude of issues, such as age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, crows feet, blotchiness, and more. Patients see a reduction in pigmentation, as well as fading of sun damage and overall improved complexion. The Sciton Skin Laser offers a dramatic renewal of your skin.

 

Ask us today how we can help you look your best for summer with many of our non-invasive, non-surgical facial solutions. Put your best face forward and feel good about putting your “best face forward” when it matters most!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015 at 9:26 pm and is filed under Chemical Peels, Noninvasive Skin Treatments, Skin Treatments, Ultherapy®. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.