Home
About Dr. Vu
Certification/Links
Photo Gallery
Testimonials
Contact Us

FACELIFT
  Watch Facelift Video

WHO IS A CANDIDATE?

  • If you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone of the face and neck.
  • If you have the appearance of jowls and deep creases between the base of the nose and the corners of the mouth.
  • If you have developed facial and neck wrinkles.
  • If you believe you lack youthful chin and neck contours.
  • If you think you have a tired facial appearance.

    INTENDED RESULT
  • A more rested and youthful contour to the face and neck.

    PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION
  • Facelifts range in size from "mini" to "standard" depending on location and extent of skin laxity. The operation is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation, or under general anesthesia. Incisions are made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the lobe and ending in or below the hairline behind the ear. The subcutaneous layers and neck muscles are tightened, the facial skin is redraped and lifted, and the excess skin is removed.

    RECUPERATION AND HEALING
  • The patient goes home with head and neck wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed the next day.
  • Minimal initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.
  • Sutures are removed within 14 days.
  • Bruising and swelling decrease to "socially acceptable" levels in 10-20 days.
  • The final result is evident in 4-6 weeks or sooner with continued improvement for several months.

    OTHER OPTIONS
  • Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Eyelid Lift, Brow Lift, Chemical Peel, Facial Sanding (dermabrasion), Chin Enlargement, Nose Reshaping (rhinoplasty), Fat Suction, and Laser Skin Resurfacing, Cheekbone Enhancement, Augmentation/Enhancement of Lips, Reduction of Earlobes.

    INSURANCE GUIDELINES
  • This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance.
  • The patient is responsible for payment.

    NOTE
  • The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation.
  • All surgical procedures have some degree of risk.
  • Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
  • Major complications are unusual.

    EYELID LIFT
      Watch Eyelid Lift Video

    WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
  • If you have excessive, sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin. If you have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision.
  • If you have lost your natural upper eyelid crease.
  • If you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.

    INTENDED RESULT
  • A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes.
  • Widening of visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision.
  • It will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines.
  • It will soften wrinkle lines.

    PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION
  • The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local or general anesthesia. The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed. If only excess fat is present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids with no external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharoplasty).

    RECUPERATION AND HEALING
  • All sutures are usually removed within 7-10 days.
  • Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.
  • Bruising and sensitivity to light last at least a week or two.
  • Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks.
  • Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed.
  • Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable -- usually within 3-7 days.

    OTHER OPTIONS
  • Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel or Laser Skin Resurfacing.

    INSURANCE GUIDELINES
  • Occasionally, if surgery is being done to improve the field of vision, insurance may cover upper lid surgery.
  • Otherwise, these procedures are considered cosmetic and the patient is responsible for payment.

    NOTE
  • The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation.
  • All surgical procedures have some degree of risk.
  • Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
  • Major complications are rare.

    BROW LIFT
      Watch Brow Lift Video

  • The forehead and eyebrow region often show noticeable signs of aging. Looseness in these structures may cause drooping eyebrows, eyelid hooding, forehead furrows, and frown lines. In browlift surgery, the structures responsible for these problems are tightened or altered to smooth the forehead, raise the upper eyebrows, and improve frown lines. A browlift may be performed alone, or in conjunction with other procedures, such as a facelift, or eyelid surgery.

  • Recent advances in browlift surgery make it possible to perform the procedure through a variety of approaches, including endoscopy. Browlift surgery is individualized for each patient. The surgical incisions used may vary with the technique selected by your surgeon to meet your needs. The browlift cannot stop the process of aging.

    WRINKLE FILLERS AND FACIAL AUGMENTATION WITH INJECTABLE FILLERS

    WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
  • If you desire a younger facial appearance and have loss facial volume and diminished skin elasticity, or have “parentheses” also known as prominent wrinkles of the nasal labial folds.
  • Males and females are both candidates for this procedure.

    INTENDED RESULT
  • The intention is to improve the appearance of wrinkles for a more youth facial appearance that you desire.
  • For some patients they want a smooth contour of their nasal labial fold with less shadowing.
  • Other patients desire additional areas of the soft filler tissue augmentation such as the marionette lines, tear trough, cheeks, dorsum or nasal tip enhancement.

    JUVÈDERM™:
  • Juvèderm™ gel is made of gel known as hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body.
  • The acid is cross-linked so that when it is placed into the skin it will have a longer lasting result.
  • Dr. Vu places Juvèderm™ gel into the body or middle portion of the upper and low lips to add volume.
  • Juvèderm™ lasts longer than collagen and new studies found that it can last up to 12 months
  • Some patients have reported intermittent lip swelling with injectable fillers, which we recommend the Arnica Montana or our Healing Suppliments Program by VitaMedica.

    ArteFill®:
  • ArteFill® is the first and only permanent injectable wrinkle filler.
  • Only FDA-approved non-resorbable wrinkle filler for the correction of smile lines.
  • Immediate, visible results with no downtime
  • A simple, in-office procedure
  • Excellent safety profile
  • Results improve over the course of several months and stand the test of time
  • Usually requires only one or two treatments

    LIP AUGMENTATION

    WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
  • If you desire to have fuller or more defined lips.
  • Males and females are both candidates for this procedure.

    INTENDED RESULT
  • The intention is to give you the fuller lips you desire.
  • For some patients with very thin lips, the goal may be to have a more normal appearance. For other patients, very thick and sexy lips are the goal.
  • Some patients desire a defined edge to the lip or a return to their less aged lip is needed.

    COSMOPLAST®:
  • This is the advanced collagen patients have been using that does not require a skin test.
  • Collagen can be injected into the edges of the lips to crisp the line also known as the vermillion border, and into superficial vertical lip lines and into the body of the lip to increase the red lip, or to all the above areas.
  • Cosmoplast® will need to be re-injected every few months.

    PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION AUTOLOGOUS FAT:
  • In this procedure, fat is harvested through mini-liposuction, then re- injected into the lips on a routine basis.
  • Alternatively, a large quantity of fat can be injected in a single sitting.
  • In addition to the implantation of some fat cells, new collagen and fibroblasts are stimulated.
  • Over the year, about 40% will become permanent.

    RECUPERATION AND HEALING
  • Postoperative pain is usually minimal.
  • The most common postoperative issue is swelling.
  • This is highly variable and it depends on the technique, how much your lip has been enlarged, and on individual healing characteristics.
  • Swelling could last as long as one to two weeks.

    OTHER OPTIONS
  • Lip enhancement can be done either alone or in conjunction with most other cosmetic procedures.

    INSURANCE GUIDELINES
  • These procedures are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment

    NOSE RESHAPING - RHINOPLASTY
      Watch Rhinoplasty Video

    WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
  • If you have an abnormal appearance of the nose as a result of birth defects, injury, or disease.
  • Nose that is cosmetically unattractive or does not "fit" with other facial features.

    INTENDED RESULTS
  • More attractive nasal shape.
  • Nose in better proportion to other facial features.

    PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION
  • The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.

    OPEN RHINOPLASTY:
  • Frequently used for difficult or larger noses.
  • Involves one external incision across the columella (strut between the nostrils).
  • Bones, cartilage, and soft tissues are reshaped under direct vision.

    OPEN TIP-PLASTY:
  • If only the nasal tip is abnormal, it may be corrected with either a standard or external open approach.
  • Large nostrils may be reduced through tiny incisions at the outer base of the nostrils with either type of rhinoplasty.

    RECUPERATION AND HEALING
  • The patient goes home with an external cast or splint in place.
  • The nose may be packed for 24-48 hours.
  • The cast or splint is usually removed in one week. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.
  • Majority of swelling and bruising subsides progressively over 2-4 weeks. External sutures (if any) are removed in 4-6 days.
  • Internal sutures dissolve.
  • Semifinal result is evident in 3 months.
  • Final result is evident in 12-14 months which is the time necessary for complete tissue softening.

    OTHER OPTIONS
  • The additional procedures that may enhance the result are Chin Enlargement and Laser Skin Resurfacing.

    INSURANCE GUIDELINES
  • This procedure is cosmetic and therefore not covered by insurance.
  • If however, the nasal deformity is due to recent injury, insurance coverage may be available.

    NOTE
  • The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation.
  • All surgical procedures have some degree of risk.
  • Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
  • Major complications are unusual.

    We offer patient financing thru Reliance Medical Finance.


    Portland Plastic Surgery | Portland Plastic Surgeon | Certification | Photo Gallery | Breast Surgery | Body Contouring | Facial Plastic Surgery | Skin Rejuvenation | Laser Treatment | Sitemap