Serving all of San Francisco and The Bay Area
Wrinkles, Sagging and Laxity of the Jowls and Neck
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. There is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
Not long ago, facelift procedures were reserved for the rich and famous. Results were often ‘surgical’ in appearance. Today, most patients are everyday, average people with a desire to look as young as they feel. Results are natural in appearance and recovery is shorter.
A facelift procedure doesn’t stop the aging process, it just sets the clock back a number of years. This is done by removing excess fat from the neck area, tightening the muscles, and redraping the skin after trimming the excess. The key is to place tension on the deeper layers of the face (provides lift) and then place no tension on the skin (non-surgical look).
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or women whose face and neck have begun to sag. Most patients are in their forties and up. Because of a greater acceptance of plastic surgery, shorter recovery times, and less ‘surgical’ looking procedures, the average age of a person seeking a facelift is decreasing. But, there are patients in their seventies and eighties who have facelifts performed.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-esteem in the process. You will not look like a different person, just more refreshed and less tired.
A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping. Ancillary procedures may be used to enhance results. Autologous fat grafting is a procedure where the patient own fat is transplanted from one area to another. About half of the fat survives long term. Lips are commonly augmented to replace fat lost with aging or to create a fuller, softer look. The chin is often augmented to improve the jaw contour. Of course, a good skin care program is essential for the health and appearance of the skin.
Explore the possibility of sculpting a new you.
Dr. Ronan is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. His specialty is aesthetic or cosmetic surgery. If you would like to discuss this or any other aesthetic procedure in detail, please call (925) 736-5757 or email us for a complimentary consultation.
Abdominal Contouring after Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, especially in the abdomen. The ability of the abdomen to ‘rebound’ after childbirth decreases with each delivery. The typical patient that presents for abdominal contouring complains of extra skin, extra fat, a stretched or loose abdominal wall, stretch marks, and/or poor lower abdominal skin quality. Some patients complain that they can’t see their belly button and others that their clothes don’t fit properly. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure addresses all of these issues.
Eyelid and Brow Lift Surgery for Men and Women
Do you wake up, even after a good night’s sleep, and find that the loose skin above your eyes or bags below your eyes make you look tired? Do the wrinkles and frown lines on your forehead and the heaviness of the brow bother you? Do you look tired but feel awake? If you answered ‘yes,’ you are not alone. Eyelid (blepharoplasty) and a brow lift procedures are commonly performed to help restore a more energetic and youthful appearance.
Wrinkles? Why not BOTOX® them?
What is all the fuss about BOTOX®? What is it and what can it do for me? Facial expressions like smiling, frowning, and laughing cause wrinkling of skin, especially between the eyebrows and in the lateral eye area (crow’s feet). BOTOX® is a medicine which treats wrinkles in an office setting with little or no downtime.
The Midface Addition for the ‘Modern’ Facelift
The youthful face is curvilinear with fullness in the upper midface, graceful curves, and a relative hollowness in the lower midface. The lower lid appears vertically short. With aging, there is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, emptiness of the upper face area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The lower lid sags and appears vertically taller. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
The Minimal Incision Breast Reduction or Lift
Upper breast flattening and breast drooping are expected consequences of childbearing and aging. Some women find that their breasts are too large and cause them problems with neck pain, back pain, shoulder strap grooving, etc. They also find that clothes and braziers don’t fit properly. For others, the volume of breast tissue is deficient or appropriate but the breasts themselves droop. If this sounds like you, keep reading. There is a newer breast procedure, with minimized incisions, that offers correction of these problems.
Breast Enhancement for the Modern Woman
The breast is the universal symbol of femininity, nurturing, love, and sexuality. Most women interested in breast augmentation or enlargement are intelligent, successful and well-adjusted individuals who are concerned with inadequate breast size. The overwhelming majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are very satisfied with their result. Because of such high patient satisfaction and improvement in self-image, it is not surprising that breast augmentation is one of the more common aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed.
Stars and the Scalpel
Fashion Wire Daily NY December 26, 2001 - Can we talk? Joan Rivers, the self-proclaimed arbiter of Hollywood style, talks as much about her own plastic surgeries as she does about other stars' fashion gaffes. But while famous folks like Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Michael Jackson and Jocelyn Wildenstein (aka The Bride of Wildenstein) can pass off their multiple body modifications as aesthetic adventurousness or a plain old sight gag, there's a fine line between people who get numerous nips and tucks, and those on a compulsive quest for perfection.
Maliniac Circle welcomes youngest member
The Maliniac Circle is an opportunity for all ASPS members – at any stage of their careers – to make a donation to PSEF to support future research and educational programs.
Stephen Ronan, MD, an ASPS candidate-member, exemplify the fact that it is never too early, or too late, to become a Maliniac Fellow.
At age 32, Dr. Ronan is the youngest member to join the Maliniac Circle. He hopes that other young plastic surgeons will follow his lead in making a deferred contribution to PSEF.
I Was Talked Out of Plastic Surgery
By Tammy Duggins
I’m 28 and recently became worried about sagging around my eyes. I live in an affluent area around San Francisco, and frankly, people judge you by appearance here. In my job as a secretary, I deal with the public and want to look my best. I’ve had friends who’ve had minor plastic surgery, and they look great.
So I went to a plastic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Ronan, and asked for a brow lift. I’d made my mind up to have it done, and I was floored when he said, “You don’t need an eye job or brow work or anything else. You don’t need plastic surgery.” That’s what every woman wants to hear! I know my husband likes my looks, but I didn’t expect a surgeon to say no to my request to change them.
Dr. Ronan suggested I pluck my eyebrows into more flattering arches, and now I do that. He didn’t charge me for the consultation (or the beauty tip!). I came away feeling like I got a gift-a confidence boost-for free.
The Midface Addition for the ‘Modern’ Facelift
The youthful face is curvilinear with fullness in the upper midface, graceful curves, and a relative hollowness in the lower midface. The lower lid appears vertically short. With aging, there is an inevitable descent of cheek tissue which creates a depression hollowness of the lower lid area, emptiness of the upper face area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The lower lid sags and appears vertically taller. The neck skin and muscle loosen creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.
Breast Enhancement for the Modern Woman
The breast is the universal symbol of femininity, nurturing, love, and sexuality. Most women interested in breast augmentation or enlargement are intelligent, successful and well-adjusted individuals who are concerned with inadequate breast size. The overwhelming majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are very satisfied with their result. Because of such high patient satisfaction and improvement in self-image, it is not surprising that breast augmentation is one of the more common aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed.
Abdominal Contouring after Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, especially in the abdomen. The ability of the abdomen to ‘rebound’ after childbirth decreases with each delivery. The typical patient that presents for abdominal contouring complains of extra skin, extra fat, a stretched or loose abdominal wall, stretch marks, and/or poor lower abdominal skin quality. Some patients complain that they can’t see their belly button and others that their clothes don’t fit properly. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure addresses all of these issues.
MD Plastic Surgeon Joins Top-end Local Practice and Offers New Procedures, Techniques
Before you undergo cosmetic surgery, you may want a consultation with expert plastic surgeon Stephen J. Ronan MD. This month, after ten years of East Coast training, Dr. Ronan returns home to the Bay Area and combines extensive knowledge, new procedures, and technologic know-how in a very reputable and successful private practice located in Blackhawk, CA.
Dr. Stephen J. Ronan
Dr. Ronan was born at the Presidio in San Francisco. He was raised in Petaluma where he attended St. Vincent Grammar and High School. He graduated St. Vincent H.S. with more than 20 awards and scholarships. He participated in sports year round (football, basketball, baseball and tennis) throughout these years and was chosen for multiple All-Star teams, MVP awards, etc.