Cosmetic Procedures

Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center invites you in for a cosmetic consultation to determine the best treatment plan for your desired results. Please call (206) 859-5777 to schedule your appointment. You may call or email with any questions. Our staff, or Dr. Reichel, herself, will be happy to talk with you about our cosmetic procedures.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

As you age, excess fat and skin around the eyelids begins to sag. Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can impair your vision. Blepharoplasty is a procedure that rejuvenates the upper and lower eyelids through the removal or repositioning of excess skin and fat. In order to minimize visible scaring, small incisions are made along the natural skin lines of the eyelids.

From her experience with performing skin cancer surgery on and around the eyes, Dr. Reichel has a firm grasp on the anatomy of the eye. During her formal training at the University of Washington, she worked with some of the best eyelid surgeons in Seattle.

"I like to combine eyelid surgery with laser resurfacing around the eyes to erase the bags, excess skin, and wrinkles all at once. Eyes are one of the most important features of the face. It is amazing how refreshed and natural your face can look after eyelid rejuvenation."

For most, results last 10 years or more. For some, results are permanent. It can take 3 to 6 months for results to be visible. Recovery time is fairly fast, for most, you can be back to normal activities in 7 days. Pain from the procedure is mild. Dr. Reichel uses local anesthetic injections to numb the area. She also uses mild sedation during eyelid surgery to relieve any discomfort. Call 206-859-5777 for a consultation on eyelid rejuvenation.

Click here to view our brochure to learn more about Eyelid Surgery.

Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting, Fat Injections)

What is Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer is a method of using your own body fat to fill in unwanted facial creases or improve hollowing around the eyes, cheeks or temples caused by aging. Fat injections can improve acne scars, and augment certain features such as lips and cheeks. It may also be used to improve the look of the aging hand. Fat transfer is our favorite way to perform the "liquid face lift" because fat is the most pliable filler and is the same consistency as your own facial tissue. The procedure can be performed along with a liposuction, or by itself.

Dr. Reichel has extensive experience with fat injections. "I love using the patient’s own fat for hand and face rejuvenation. As we age, we loose the natural fat pads in the face. Injecting fat can rejuvenate and add back that lost volume. I like to have patients bring in photos from when they were younger so we can restore that lost volume."

How is the Procedure Performed?

Fat transfer is performed by removing fat from one area of your body such as your abdomen or thighs, and then injecting it into the desired site. The "donor" area (abdomen or thigh) is cleaned and then anesthetized with tumescent anesthesia, just like in liposuction. Tumescent anesthesia uses a solution of lidocaine and saline. After the anesthesia, the fat is removed using narrow metal tubes called cannulas. The cannula is attached to a sterile syringe where the fat is collected. The fat is then centrifuged and purified so that it can be injected into the treatment site. In most cases, we will collect enough fat to store for future treatments. The fat can be stored for up to 2 years.

After the fat "harvest", the treatment area is numbed using local anesthetic, and then the fat is injected via very small blunt ended cannulas. It is then massaged into place. Before the procedure, you will be given pain medication and a light sedative to make you more comfortable.

Side Effects

The treated area may look overly plump or swollen for about a week. You may want to plan a few days of "down-time". However, many patients are able to return to their normal activities immediately. Most notice some bruising, swelling and redness in the donor and injection sites.

Additional Information

Because some of the fat is reabsorbed by the body after the injection, it usually requires 3 treatments to accomplish a 75 to 80 percent correction. The treatments are usually performed every 3 months. Some patients do not need all 3 treatments, and some patients may need more.

The rejuvenation effects of transferred fat can last years, and in many patients, the effects are permanent. However, in some cases, the transferred fat may be reabsorbed resulting in loss of effect. Some patients require booster injections of fresh or stored fat to maintain results.

Because the fat is from your own body, unlike collagen or other “fillers”, your body will not react against the fat. Results from patients, physicians and other researchers place the durability of fat injections anywhere from half a year up to eight years.

Click here for more information about Fat Transfer.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment for varicose and spider veins. A special sclerosing solution is injected into the diseased vein, which then collapses and is gradually absorbed by the body. By the end of the treatment program, the veins are less visible on the skin surface. Sclerotherapy usually also relieves symptoms associated with enlarged veins and prevents further complications.

Click here for more information about Sclerotherapy.