Dr. Langdon's Blog

Express Lift at The Langdon Center

Robert Langdon, MD — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:24:17 +0000

Dr. Langdon was recently featured on WTNH’s CT Style Magazine discussing the Express Lift, a minimally invasive face-lift that erases years from your age.

Please take a moment to view the segment. If you are interested in a consultation to find out if this is an opti0n for you, please call us at 203-453-8625, ask for Colleen our Patient Coordinator.

Dr. Langdon Guest Speaker at ENT meeting

Robert Langdon, MD — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:21:09 +0000

On November 11, Dr. Langdon, board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, was a guest speaker at the semi-annual meeting of the Connecticut ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Society, the statewide society of physicians in the specialty of otolaryngology. The theme of the meeting was facial plastic surgery; the venue was the Aqua-Turf Club in Southington, CT.

Dr. Langdon spoke about his extensive experience using laser and light-energy devices for facial rejuvenation. In his 45 minute presentation he discussed his techniques for fractional and conventional laser resurfacing; laser and IPL treatments to reduce facial blood vessels, age spots and sun damage; lasers and IPL photo facial treatments for hair removal; SkinTyte infrared light treatments for skin tightening; and laser-assisted liposuction for improving neck and jowl contours.

Thursday October 21st Complimentary Educational Seminar: SOLD OUT

Robert Langdon, MD — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:59:41 +0000

This Thursday, October 21st, Dr. Langdon will be presenting an educational seminar at 7:00 pm in their Guilford office. Unfortunately this event is already SOLD OUT.

Even though it is too late to reserve your spot at this Thursday’s seminar it’s not too late for our November 18th event. Call today before the next event is sold out: (203) 453-8625 to reserve early — seating is limited so reserve now.

Dr. Langdon Discusses Lipo Body Sculpting on WTNH

Robert Langdon, MD — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:51:09 +0000

I recently was interviewed on WTNH’s CT Lifestyle television show about the latest trends in body sculpting.

At The Langdon Center we offer more options in Body Sculpting than any other cosmetic center in CT including Body-Jet, water assisted liposuction; ProLipo, laser lipo; SlimLipo, laser lipo; Micro Cannula Lipo; and Zerona, non-invasive body contouring. With so many options we are able to treat almost anyone to help them shape, sculpt and contour their body.

Please take a moment to view the segment. If you are interested in a consultation to find out which opti0n is best for you, please call us at 203-453-8625, ask for Colleen our Patient Coordinator.

Dr. Langdon

Enhance Naturally: Fat Transfer for Breasts

Robert Langdon, MD — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:22:46 +0000

Q: Fat Transfer for Breasts?

I have asymmetric breasts. Left is B cup and right is a C cup. I was thinking about implants but really don’t want to do that. I found something on fat transfer for breasts. I would only want it in my left breast. I know they wont be perfectly alike but am fine with that. I would just want them closer in size than they are now. What are the risks, and what would be the price for one breast. I am about 5’4 and 106 pounds if that means anything?

A: Fat transfer to improve breast asymmetry

Fat transfer can be used to enlarge the smaller breast; a one cup size increase is realistic with this procedure. The results are generally more natural in appearance than that of a breast implant, and will produce a better match with the untreated breast. A liposuction procedure is used to obtain the fat for grafting (I use the BodyJet machine for this). Your small size may require that fat be harvested from more than one body area. The most common donor areas are the abdomen and thighs. Price is very specific to the individual and you would need to come in for a one-on-one complimentary consultation in order for us to provide you with a quote. For more information and to see before an after photographs, visit my website.

Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Robert Langdon, MD — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:01:28 +0000

At the Langdon Center we have been getting great results for our patients using the Fraxel laser for rejuvenation of facial and non-facial skin. Dr. Langdon was one of the first physicians in the country to acquire the Fraxel laser (in September 2005). As we discussed in a previous newsletter article, the Fraxel laser affects a fraction (usually about 20%) of the actual surface area of treated skin. Microscopic three-dimensional columns of skin (about 1 million of them over the entire face) are coagulated at each spot where the Fraxel laser penetrates the skin. The intervening untreated skin (amounting to about 80% of the total surface area) is not affected. New skin tissue is regenerated to replace each tiny column of treated skin during the recovery process. Sun-damaged or scarred skin is thus replaced with brand-new skin. Treatments with the Fraxel laser have the shortest recovery time of any highly effective skin renewal treatment. As Dr. Langdon explains in his book Understanding Cosmetic Laser Surgery one of the most important characteristics of any laser is the wavelength of visible or infrared light that the laser produces. Because of its wavelength the Fraxel laser does not cause very much contraction (tightening) of treated skin. The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser has been used since the mid-1990s for facial laser resurfacing; one of its advantages is the significant contraction of facial skin that it causes. Patients with more severe sun damage or aging of facial skin, associated with deeper wrinkles or looseness of the skin, are good candidates for CO2 laser resurfacing. These patients can achieve the greatest possible improvement from CO2 laser resurfacing, thus the CO2 laser is considered the “gold standard” instrument for facial resurfacing. In “traditional” CO2 laser resurfacing (in which 100% of the skin’s surface area is treated) the recovery time is relatively prolonged (typically one and a half to two weeks). A newer approach to laser resurfacing is fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. A special “scanning” handpiece is attached to the CO2 laser; the scanner “fractionates” the CO2 laser beam into tiny spots, affording a treatment similar to that with the Fraxel laser. With this technique, the greater degree of skin contraction afforded by the CO2 laser is combined with the quick recovery of fractional resurfacing. The same type of patients who benefit the most from traditional CO2 laser resurfacing can achieve skin tightening from fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, with a quick recovery (typically 3 to 4 days). Like the Fraxel laser, improvement is directly proportional to the number of treatments that the patient receives. Most patients undergo three or more treatments of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. The patient in the photo was treated only once with fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Note the obvious improvement in her cheek wrinkles. The greater intensity of the CO2 laser requires more anesthesia (numbing) than is needed for Fraxel laser treatment. Prior to Fraxel treatment, the skin is numbed with an anesthetic cream applied to the surface. A “Zimmer chiller” is used to blow refrigerated air onto the skin during the Fraxel treatment. In contrast, local anesthetic solution is injected prior to fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. The injected anesthetic affords complete numbing so that the Zimmer chiller is not necessary. After the treatment, patients apply a moisturizing ointment for a few days. Most patients look good within four days of the treatment. At which time they typically have some redness but little swelling. Optimal results are seen after a series of three treatments, although many patients are happy with the results of only one fractional CO2 laser resurfacing treatment. For more information, please see our web site or call our office (203)-453-8625 to schedule a free consultation.

What Do Your Eyes Tell About You?

Robert Langdon, MD — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:12:01 +0000

In a study conducted at the University of Western Ontario, psychologists tested people’s perceptions of eye size. They used computers to manipulate pictures of 18 women’s and 9 men’s eyes so that they were made to look small, medium and large.

Then the researchers asked test subjects to characterize the personalities of the people in each photo. Interestingly enough, the scores for honesty, likability, nurturing, empathy, and intelligence all increased in direct proportion to eye size of both men and women. As eye size increased the scores increased and vice versa.

Other experiments in which eye spacing and lip fullness were altered had no effect on the ratings.

It seems that people associate large eyes with open, youthful innocence, the psychologists reported. Not only do large eyes convey these positive characteristics, but they’re also considered more attractive – thus leading people to make other positive assumptions about everything from kindness to popularity.

At Last You Can Eliminate Bags, Bulges and Drooping Eyelids!

Now, here’s a way to get more beautiful, wide-open and younger-looking eyes. It’s a procedure that seems to have remarkable results for patients; it’s called blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery).

Why do Eyes Look Tired, Dull and Old?

As we age, the elastic tissue around the eyes (both upper and lower eyelids) begins to lose its springy, rubberband-like quality. This allows pockets of fat to form, giving the appearance of puffy eyes.

Moreover, the skin around the eyes stretches out and muscles weaken, causing fat to accumulate and giving eyes their droopy and saggy appearance. You’ll begin to notice this in different ways around your upper and lower eyelids.

On the upper eyelids the skin can hang down over the eyes creating a droopy and saggy appearance. For some people this excess skin may even interfere with vision.

Also very common as we age are puffy eyes or sagging bags around the lower eyelids. These bags are due to excess fat that has bulged forward. These bags can produce the effect of looking tired and sad, even when you feel wide-awake and fine.

However, now with the cosmetic surgery procedure known as laser blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery), we can safely remove excess skin and puffy bags on both the upper and lower eyelids, leaving you looking years younger.

Here’s how it works

Blepharoplasty removes excess fat and skin from the eyelids. For upper eyelids a crescent moon-shaped fold of skin is removed and pockets of fat are cut out. This incision is made along the lid crease so it hides the minor scar. To remove the puffy bags common in lower lids, you don’t even have to have an incision in the skin. Surgery is done inside the eyelid leaving no scar whatsoever!

Breakthrough Laser Technology

Using a CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) laser as a scalpel we can perform the eyelid surgery in a precise and bloodless way. The laser delivers high-energy, precisely focused light to cut away delicate eyelid tissue. As the laser cuts, it also seals off blood vessels, almost eliminating any bruising or black eyes.

No other tool has made eyelid surgery so precise and accurate. Moreover, the laser seals off nerve endings around the incision site, thus largely eliminating pain and discomfort following surgery.

For more information about this procedure, visit The Langdon Center Website.

Which “Filler” to Use: Restylane, Radiesse or Sculptra?

Robert Langdon, MD — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:40:55 +0000

There are many injectable “fillers” that have FDA approval, each having a special use in diminishing wrinkles and furrows.

Since its FDA approval in December 2003, Restylane has become the most popular wrinkle-filling injectable treatment in the United States. Restylane is used mainly for superficial wrinkles and has almost entirely replaced older collagen treatments. Unlike bovine collagen (obtained from cows), Restylane is a pure natural substance called hyaluronic acid. It is not derived from animals and is produced in a laboratory environment. Restylane is identical to human hyaluronic acid, so no allergy testing is required (as it is with the use of bovine collagen). Restylane is clear and is thus generally not visible after it is used to smooth superficial skin wrinkles. The improvement in wrinkles after Restylane injection can last a year or more. Studies have even shown that Restylane stimulates natural collagen production in the skin, an effect that can be long-lasting. Juvederm, another filler composed of hyaluronic acid, is very similar to Restylane and is used in the same way.

Deeper Fillers

Two additional injectable “fillers” that have FDA approval are Radiesse and Sculptra. Radiesse is best used for deeper furrows, such as the fold that runs from the lower nose toward the corner of the mouth. Radiesse can also be used to augment volume over cheek bones and along the jaw line and to fill in hollow areas of the cheek. Like Restylane, Radiesse is a natural substance (calcium hydroxylapatite) and is identical to the mineral content of human bone. Thus, no allergy testing is needed. Radiesse is also produced in a laboratory environment and is thus not derived from animals. The biggest advantage of Radiesse is its longevity; improvement may be visible for up to three years.

Another newer injectable is Sculptra, a polymerized form of lactic acid (a product of sugarcane). Lactic acid polymers have been used for many years to produce absorbable surgical sutures (stitches), which gradually dissolve. Sculptra is a suspension of small particles of the material; when injected just beneath the skin, Sculptra stimulates production of collagen as it dissolves, adding extra volume to the cheek. Sculptra is usually given in a series of two or three treatments, each spaced several weeks apart. The volume augmentation can take two or more months to be fully evident. The treatment effects are more than additive in that the second and especially the third treatment sessions result in more volume augmentation than the first.

Choosing a Filler

Each of these three filler materials has an optimal application. Restylane is ideal for filling in superficial-to-moderate wrinkles. Radiesse is well suited for filling in deeper furrows and can be used to add volume to hollow areas of the face. Radiesse can also add volume to the cheek bone, chin and jaw line areas. Sculptra works at an even deeper level and can be used as a non-surgical alternative to augmentation using the patient’s own fat tissue (lipo-augmentation). Dr. Langdon has extensive experience with all three fillers and can discuss with you how they can be used non-surgically to improve facial wrinkles and furrows.

Still have faint forehead lines after Botox

Robert Langdon, MD — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:43:24 +0000

Dear Dr. Langdon:

I had botox done about 2 1/2 weeks ago on forehead and bunny lines. The middle area of my forehead is “frozen” but I can still see faint lines. Is this normal? Will they go away in time? My doctor said to exfoliate the area because it is the new skin coming in that will be void of lines. Is this correct? And if so how long do I have to wait before exfoliating? (I had my touch up on Tuesday) Thank you!!

Dr. Langdon Says:

Botox relaxes the facial muscles that are the cause of wrinkles, but it has no direct effect on the skin. Wrinkles that are visible when the underlying muscles are fully at rest are “etched in the skin” and will not improve unless the skin is directly treated by other modalities. Injection of a filler substance such as hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm) into the skin will temporarily smooth the wrinkles, but long-lasting improvement requires skin resurfacing, which is best done by a laser.

Laser resurfacing can be achieved through a series of fractional laser treatments (most often Fraxel laser at 1550 nm wavelength or Fractional CO2 laser at 10,600 nm wavelength), or through a single treatment of “traditional” (non-fractional) laser resurfacing (either erbium laser at 2940 nm or CO2 laser). The “traditional” approach is the most effective and can result in complete smoothing of the wrinkles.

The best strategy of all is combining Botox and laser resurfacing. Continued use of Botox can prevent the wrinkles from recurring after the resurfacing. I have personal experience with this combo, having had laser resurfacing of my frown lines in 1995 followed by continual injections of Botox (3-4 times a year). After 15 years, my frown lines have not returned, and should never return as long as I prevent them with Botox.

Sun Protection: Your Best Defense

Robert Langdon, MD — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:16:09 +0000

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a number that indicates how many times longer, with protection, the skin may be exposed to the sun before sunburn damage results. For example, a properly applied SPF 15 sunscreen will prolong the time it takes to sunburn by 15-fold. An SPF 30 sunscreen will block twice as much UV radiation as an SPF 15 sunscreen.

To maximize protection, always apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposure and reapply often, especially after swimming or perspiring. Sun protection is equally important year-round and in all climates. Remember to apply sunscreen for all outdoor activities, especially during the peak hours of 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Water, snow or ice environments demand diligent use of sunscreen because the sun is especially strong when reflected. Don’t forget to use sunscreen moisturizing protection for your lips, which can burn and chap from exposure to sun, wind and salt water.

Please stop by our office or call us at (203) 453-8625 to inquire about the full line of top quality sun protection products from DCL.

Everything You Need for Facial Skin Care

For facial skin care, we now have available the Anti-Aging System. This group of five complementary products is formulated to address every symptom of photo-aging. There are five sophisticated components to the system:

• Balancing Cleanser (used twice-a-day)

• Eye Refining Matrix (used twice-a-day)

• Skin Renewal Complex with SPF 20 and anti-oxidants (used in morning)

• Vitamin Infusion (used in evening)

• Hydrating Serum (used twice-a-day) for maximum moisturizing