I recently returned from Russia where I was invited to take care of many people and evaluate and treat their faces. This was a very exciting trip and something that I am very proud and honored to have done. While there, I met many wonderful people and had a great time learning about Russian culture. Most of what I did was evaluate people who either want to have facial surgery or have had facial surgery and are unhappy with the results and wish to have it revised.
The most common complaints that I heard were those concerning signs of the aging face. Most of the people I met are interested in facelifts and facial rejuvenation. I met several people who are interested in primary rhinoplasties and several more who have had rhinoplasties and wished to have them revised. I was very busy seeing these patients and usually spent all day from about 8:00 in the morning until 10:00 o’clock at night providing consultations.
While I was there, I also performed many facial injections. Most of the people I saw were interested in the “Diamond Nonsurgical Facelift.” This included sculpting of the bony surfaces of their high lateral cheekbone, the jaw angle, and the chin. I used Radiesse® to create sharply defined, angular contours, which can lift the face substantially. I also used other facial fillers containing hyaluronic acid, including Juvéderm® and Restylane® to fill the nasolabial folds and augment the lips. I also performed a substantial amount of Botox® and PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections. PRP is plasma that we derive from drawing blood from the arm. Once the blood is drawn, it is placed in a test tube and spun down in a centrifuge, separating the blood into different layers. One of the layers is a golden clear layer of fluid, which is the layer of platelet rich plasma. This plasma is the material we use to inject into the face.
It is interesting to note that PRP injections are very common in Russia. I met literally hundreds of people who have had it done. In fact, PRP injections seem to be as common in Russia as Botox®. In America, PRP is not very common. In fact, I have never had a patient who has had it done prior to me doing it for them. I’m not sure what the reason for this is, although I think it most likely is related to marketing. Even though the jury on PRP injections is still out, it certainly gives a very nice and safe filling effect. Although the filling effect does disappear pretty quickly, theoretically, there is a long-term benefit that includes stimulation of collagen and blood vessel growth to improve the health, texture, and tone of the skin.
I treated many people with this combination of fillers, which has been termed the “Diamond Nonsurgical Facelift.” I had numerous patients who were very happy with the results and already are planning to have me do it again for them when I return to Russia in the future.
I am planning a return trip to Russia, although I’m not sure when this is going to be. However, the demand for the Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon in Russia is quite high and many people there know who I am for a myriad of different reasons.
Being that I’m traveling to Dubai, New York City, and now Russia, I will probably keep these trips limited to once or twice a year. Traveling to Russia certainly was a very rewarding and enriching experience, and I look forward to going again.