Summer is coming… Are you protecting your skin?

Summer is my favorite time of year.  Beautiful weather for everything outdoors.  That also means lots of sun!  Of course, we should all enjoy the sun whenever we’d like, but along with the benefits of the sun also come the risks.

Good sun protection is absolutely essential for keeping your skin young and healthy.  It will also prevent premature aging and significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer.

As this topic is very important, especially this time of year, I have been giving a series of educational talks over the past several weeks on sun protection.  In case you missed them, here are some highlights:

• UVA and UVB are ultraviolet wavelengths of light that are responsible for skin damage.
• UVA – causes skin Aging (sun spots, loss of skin tightness, wrinkles)
• UVB – causes skin Burns (redness, pain, peeling)
• Both UVA and UVB exposure can cause skin cancer
• The three most common types of skin cancer are Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma
• Melanoma was responsible for 10,000 deaths in the US in 2015
• Sun protection can include wearing protective clothing and big hats
• We have 2 categories of sunscreen: 1) chemical sunscreen, 2) physical sunscreen
• Chemical sunscreen
• The most common found in most drugstores
• Ingredients like avobenzone and octinoxate react with the UV rays in the skin and a chemical reaction breaks down the sun’s energy into heat, avoiding UV damage
•  Physical sunscreen
• Hard to find in most stores, more easily found in medical offices and spas
• Ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide provide a physical barrier that reflects the UV rays, avoid absorption into the skin
•  Hypoallergenic
•  More expensive to produce
• *SPF ratings apply to protection from UVB only!  UVA protection is not considered on SPF ratings
• SPF 30 or greater helps protect from skin cancer, less than SPF 30 does not!

• So which type of sunscreen is best for you?
•  Physical sunscreens are more hypoallergenic, prevent sun from being absorbed into the skin, and can come in both neutral and tinted colors for different skin types.  They are, however, more expensive.
• Chemical sunscreens are effective at protecting from most UVB rays and are readily available.  They are, however, more irritating to sensitive skin and don’t always protect against some of the UVA spectrum.
• The bottom line of which sunscreen is best for you = the one you will use!
• Consistent sunscreen use is the most important factor in protecting your skin. Find a product that you like and use it EVERYDAY.

This is obviously a big topic to discuss and my blog today only touches on some of the highlights.  For more information on sun protection, please come by our office at Sierra Nevada Cosmetic and Laser Surgery.  You can talk to me or my wonderful esthetician, Annette.  We can give you guidance on sun protection best practices and recommend sunscreens that are the best for you.

I also have my presentation about sun protection coming up in the next several weeks:

Hidden Valley Country Club – Tuesday, June 7^th @ 1 pm

Genoa Lakes Golf Club and Resort – TBD

I hope you can make one and learn more about this important topic for the summer!

Here’s to the beautiful human face,

Dr. Yamamoto

What’s involved in a cosmetic rhinoplasty?

Desiring a change in the appearance of your nose is a common topic we discuss here at Sierra Nevada Cosmetic and Laser Surgery.  Depending on what changes you want made, a surgery customized for you can be planned.

So what is involved in a cosmetic rhinoplasty?

The nose is made up of an intricate structure of cartilage and bone.  Think of it as the support that not only gives your nose its appearance, but its ability for you to breathe.  This complex anatomy of cartilage and bone is very individualized and different from person to person.

During a rhinoplasty, a surgeon can do three things to change the shape of the nose

• Rearrange cartilage/bone – this is done to change the shape of a specific area without making it larger or smaller.
• Remove cartilage/bone – this is done commonly to remove a “bump” or other area of the nose that appears too large.
•  Add cartilage/bone – this is done to augment an area that appears too small.

Think of these maneuvers as a surgeon’s method of sculpting your nose to its new shape.  The overlying skin is not changed. Instead, the structure underneath is changed to create a new scaffold for the skin “remold” around.

When rearranging or adding cartilage or bone to the nose, it is important to use your own tissue.  A surgeon will first use cartilage from inside your nose.  This is typically taken from your septum, which will not alter the way your nose looks or functions.  This cartilage from your septum is ideal tissue to use in a rhinoplasty.  Other options are to use cartilage from your ear or your rib.

Remember that a rhinoplasty is a very intricate surgery and arguably the most technically challenging surgery a plastic surgeon performs.  We are dealing with millimeters of change and these very small changes should be appreciated by both the surgeon and the patient. It is important to find a surgeon who is well-trained and has extensive experience performing surgery on the nose.  He must be an expert in the complex anatomy of the nose as well as how the nose functions.  No matter how you want the appearance of your nose to change, you still need to breathe through it!

The best way to determine the best customized rhinoplasty for you is to come in for a consultation.  We look at your photos and makes changes to them using photo morphing software, and together find the look you desire.  From there, we come up with a step-by-step plan of what is needed in your surgery.

We strive to give you the best nose for your face.  It will fit your appearance and your personality. 

Here’s to the beautiful human face,

-Dr. Yamamoto