I invite you to join me on this page where I’ll share with you what’s new in my practice, insights about health and beauty, and interesting and exciting innovations. And of course, I'll talk about plastic surgery because, after all, we're all curious about WHAT'S NEW aren't we!
Enjoy,
These days it seems that anti-aging antioxidants are in everything from serums and night creams to shampoo and cellulite lotions. And that’s great. But how about preventing the signs of aging from the inside out? I recently sat down with my personal chef, The Next Food Network Star’s Elizabeth Howes, owner of Saffron Lane boutique catering, to put together a few anti-aging appetizers for summertime entertaining.
The antioxidant substances in foods that contain beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, and Vitamins A, C, and E can dramatically boost skin health, providing that much sought after youthful glow naturally.
Beta-carotene – protects the skin cell membranes and stimulates the growth of new skin cells. Sources: carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and cantaloupe.
Lutein – increases skin hydration, elasticity, and skin lipid concentration. Sources: carrots, squash and other orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, arugula and watercress.
Lycopene – reduces skin wrinkling, redness, and inflammation. Sources: tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, persimmons, apricots.
Selenium – provides a natural glow to skin and has been linked to a 60% reduction in skin cancer. Sources: watercress, seafood, eggs, chicken.
Vitamin A – known to rejuvenate the skin and improve overall structure, tone, and quality. Sources: peaches, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots, broccoli.
Vitamin C – very important in collagen production and overall skin health. Sources: tomatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries, green peppers.
Vitamin E – vital in protecting skin cells from UV light, pollution, and other elements that produce cell damaging free radicals. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sources: whole grains, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables.
Here is one of Elizabeth’s low-calorie, but utterly delicious, appetizer recipes to kick off that alluring glow, while enjoying the last cherished days of summer with good friends. Stay tuned for more great anti-aging recipes!
Organic Peach, Cucumber & Golden Tomato Gazpacho
Yield: Makes 8-10 appetizer servings | active time: 20 minutes | total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
Preparation
In a food processor, place all ingredients except the water and pulse until mixture is coarsely chopped. Add water and pulse a couple times again until the gazpacho is blended but still a little chunky. Place in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let refrigerate for 20-25 minutes, or until well chilled. Serve immediately in small glasses or bowls. Garnish with diced peach and a cucumber round, if desired.
Antioxidant Profile
This is an antioxidant powerhouse loaded with vitamin A and C from tomatoes and peaches and a special bioflavonoid found in cucumbers. It also contains a great deal of lycopene and allium compounds. This is a true collagen producer (and also low in calories), so don’t be shy about seconds!
For more information about Elizabeth and Saffron Lane, please visit www.saffronlane.com.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Latisse: Before and After
We’ve all seen the ads. Enter the beautiful Brooke Shields batting incredibly lush lashes below her perfectly defined signature brows. She uses Latisse. The buzz around this product is incredible, and I’m sure you have questions about what it is and why it works.
What:
Latisse was recently released by Allergan and contains the active ingredient, Bimatoprost (Lumigan). This drug was initially intended to treat glaucoma, an eye disease. It was noted that patients who received this medication reported increased eyelash growth as a side effect, and a new application was born.
How:
Latisse goes on like eyeliner. You apply a drop to a disposable applicator and spread it across the base of the upper lashes. It must be used daily to see results. The product gradually enhances the eyelashes by prolonging their growth cycle. The end result is thicker, longer lashes. There will be noticeable improvement within four weeks, with fullest benefit after 16 weeks. After the 16 weeks, the manufacturer recommends applying the product every couple of days in order to maintain length and fullness.
Rare potential side effects such as a darkening of eyelid skin and a possible increase in the brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye may occur. Other possible side effects include itching, redness, dryness, and irritation of the eye or surrounding eyelid skin where Latisse is applied.
Where:
Latisse is available at medical offices, including ours, and it is wise to consult with your physician as to whether you are a good candidate for it. Run, don’t walk; it’s going fast, and you’ll have to fight my office girls for it!
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
I am excited to report that Vogue Magazine has asked me to be one of their Vogue 100. This is a group of 100 women around the country selected by Vogue to serve as editors, tastemakers, and ambassadors in the world of fashion and beauty. Stay tuned for the inside scoop – I’ll keep you posted!
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
We can’t help but read the gossip magazines, or at least flip through them – our secret guilty pleasure. And even the ones we don’t read, we sneak a peek at when leaving the grocery checkout counter…
So what’s the latest gossip coming from the celebrity plastic surgery world? Victoria Beckham’s breast reduction! Rumor has it that she is so intent to be on the cover of Vogue magazine that she had her breasts downsized to increase her odds of landing the cover. Vogue’s editor, Anna Wintour, said she would consider putting Victoria on the cover, but told her she had to get her breasts looking better. Beckham recently had her surgery in France to downgrade from a 34DD cup to a B cup.
Victoria Beckham prior to her capsulectomy
So what’s the real scoop?
Victoria likely had a procedure called a capsulectomy, or a removal of the scar tissue surrounding the implants, with an implant exchanged to a smaller size. Victoria’s breasts were not only larger before, but they were also encapsulated, or hardened. This hardening occurs when the natural scar tissue that forms around any breast implant in the body thickens and contracts. The result is that the breasts look high, round, and unnatural. We’ve definitely seen plenty of evidence of this phenomenon in the pages of US Weekly.
Capsular contracture can occur in various degrees, from mild to severe. Mild encapsulation may be evident only as a slight firmness in the feeling of the implants, with minimal cosmetic consequence. More severe degrees can result in distortion of the breasts, and even pain in some cases. Long term untreated severe encapsulation is associated with a higher rate of implant rupture, and mammography in these patients is less reliable. For these health reasons, in addition to the undesirable cosmetic consequences, many patients may want to replace their encapsulated implants.
Luckily, most breast implants do not encapsulate to a severe degree, and there are various preventative measures that one can take, such as breast implant massage. Your surgeon should provide you with instruction as to how to best prevent encapsulation.
In the meantime, Victoria looks great. Her breasts are much more natural looking. I think they complement her figure nicely. Ms. Wintour should take note – only time will tell…
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
In a city that prides itself in being “au natural”, under the surface San Francisco is transforming itself – literally. Statistics show that San Francisco, not Los Angeles, leads the nation as the city where the most cosmetic surgery is performed!
I was interviewed by the very hip 944 Magazine recently about what’s driving the trend, and how the best kept secret in San Francisco is being held undercover.
FYI, the findings were arrived through per capita statistics provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy for Cosmetic Dentistry.
View the article in its entirety at 944 Magazine, and coverage of the story in Men’s Health Magazine.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Carolyn Chang is a premier San Francisco plastic surgeon and immediate past Vice Chair of Plastic Surgery at CPMC. She is renowned for her beautifully natural aesthetic, and has helped thousands of patients achieve transformative results.
Dr. Chang lives in San Francisco, with her husband Patrick and their children, James and Jemma. She is an avid world traveler and loves sampling the best restaurants that the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.
Dr. Chang is seeing new patient consults in Menlo Park as a courtesy to her Peninsula and South Bay clientele.
Please call 415.923.3070 for more information.
Dr. Chang is pleased to announce the addition of Tatiana Longoria RN, aesthetic nurse, specializing in dermal fillers, neuromodulators, lasers, and microneedling with a natural aesthetic.
Appointments available on select Mon/Tues, please call to schedule 415.923.3070.
2100 Webster St.
Suite 508
San Francisco, CA
94115
T 415.923.3070
F 415 923.3069
